Natural gas is an energy that has many benefits compared to others, such as being cleaner in terms of waste emissions, and being more efficient, because it is cheaper or easier to store. However, contrary to what many people think, natural gas is not a renewable energy, but a fossil fuel, like coal or oil and, in fact, the aforementioned advantages are over these other two fossil fuels.
In this Green Ecologist article, we analyze why natural gas is a non-renewable energy.
What is the natural gas
Natural gas is within the fossil fuels or energy, like coal or oil. It is a mixture of different hydrocarbons, that is, its main components are carbon (C) and hydrogen (H2). Therefore, natural gas is made up of gases that are extracted from fossil deposits. These deposits are not unlimited, so natural gas is a non-renewable energy.
Natural gas is part of the primary energies, since it is found in nature without the need for transformation, along with solar energy, coal or oil. This energy source began to be used as fuel in the 1960s. It is also used as a raw material in some chemical processes.
Nowadays, natural gas is produced in two ways:
- Liquid gas: It's the kind that goes liquid. It is made with a mixture of butane and propane. This form of gas can be found in household cylinders. And it is obtained during the extraction of oil or during its refining. This form of obtaining continues to be a minority.
- Methane: It is stored in a liquid state at low temperature and high pressure, but is transported in a gaseous state. This is the form that is used for vehicles.
Learn more about what fossil fuels are and how they were formed in this other Green Ecologist article.
Natural gas properties
This gas mixture is lighter than water, it does not present toxicity, it is colorless and odorless (originally). Its majority component is methane (CH4), although it may also contain other gases such as ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8) or pentane (C5H12), although its composition changes according to its geographical and geological origin and is also associated with carbon dioxide, nitrogen or helium, which is extracted during the industrial process. For example, in the Lacq deposit (France), it is associated with sulfur compounds.
To obtain the energy contained in the hydrocarbon bonds of this gas, it is subjected to a thermodynamic reaction of exothermic oxidation, resulting in the energy production in the form of heat and chemical energy. The calorific value of natural gas depends on its composition, but the highest figures are between 8,500 and 10,200 kcal per m3.
Among other properties of natural gas are the less waste emission and other atmospheric emissions with respect to other fossil energies, and that its high efficiency for obtaining electricity in thermal power plants is cheaper than other sources or its easy storage compared to coal or oil.
Uses of natural gas today
The treatment of natural gas in liquid state, its transformation, storage and transportation is the way that poses the most problems, in addition to requiring the largest investments. This is why, usually in the commercial market, it is preferred to use natural gas in its gaseous state. Between the current uses of natural gas is it so:
- Electricity production: thanks to the operation of gas, steam or combined cycle turbines. In OECD countries, the use of natural gas for this purpose is growing, since it is much cleaner and cheaper than the use of other energies.
- Fuel in transport: it is used at high pressures and results in cleaner and less expensive energy.
- Home use: Natural gas serves as energy for cooking, heating, or as a method of heating water. As an alternative in heating, at Ecologista Verde we propose these types of ecological heating, leaving aside this fossil fuel.
- Industrial processes: in textile, plastics or steel industries. Natural gas is also a raw material for obtaining nitrogen fertilizers.
Why natural gas is not a renewable source
Natural gas is a fossil fuel that has formed over millions of years on land as a result of anaerobic (oxygen-free) decomposition of remains of dead organisms buried under the seabed or in lakes. This process subjected these materials to high pressures and temperatures, which gradually altered their chemical composition. Natural gas is one of the gases that was released during this decomposition and was buried in large pockets underground.
From the production process it can be seen that it is a non-renewable energy source, since we obtain that gas, which cannot be renewed within a relatively normal time or short, but it would take millions of years to come back and it is not certain that it could form again due to the current oxygen levels on Earth.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why natural gas is a non-renewable energy, we recommend that you enter our category of non-renewable energies.
