Is Natural Gas Renewable Energy?

Natural gas is probably the hottest commodity in the world, which acts as a key driver of global inflation, the world economy, and the energy crisis, and it is a major determinant of global geopolitics. But how did it become a popular energy source, and most importantly, is natural gas renewable energy?

You will find out in this blog post and much more. So, let’s dive right in.

What is natural gas?

Also known as methane gas, natural gas is a naturally occurring colorless flammable gaseous hydrocarbon. Mainly it consists of methane and ethane.

Other low levels of trace gases are also found, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium, and hydrogen sulfide.

Natural gas is an odorless gas, due to security reasons odorizers like mercaptan are added. The odorizer helps detect any leaks.

Where is Natural Gas Found and How is Produced?

Natural gas is often found in natural underground reservoirs, often along with other fossil fuels. It is a fossil fuel that is formed when several layers of organic matter decompose under the action of intense heat and pressure under anaerobic conditions.

The process takes millions of years to complete. The existing natural gas was produced over the period of millions of years through either thermogenic or biogenic processes.

Why Natural Gas is Found Only in Some Areas, Not in Others?

You now have a clear idea about how natural gas is produced. You should be able to tell why natural gas is found only in some places.

If you are not able to comprehend then let me tell you. It is very simple. Natural gas is only found in areas, where dead bodies of plants and animals were buried and subjected to intense heat and pressure for millions of years.

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A Brief History of Natural Gas Consumption

The first discovery of natural gas can be traced back to Iran between 6000 and 2000 BCE. Other researchers also describe the earliest discovery of natural gas in the Baku Azerbaijan region.

While the first use of the gas is stated to have happened around 900 BCE in China. The first well was drilled in China somewhere around 211 BCE. Later, much deeper wells were dug in China and across other regions.

Natural gas was first discovered in Europe in 1659. However, it did not receive a widespread application. Only after 1790, did natural gas become a primary fuel.

In the United States, the first commercial application of natural gas can be traced to Fredonia, New York in 1821. Even in the 19^th century, natural gas had limited localized consumption. The improvements in the transportation sector, most notably the invention of leak-proof pipeline coupling, made short-distance transmission possible.

The breakthrough in long-distance transmission occurred in the 1920s with the advances in pipeline technology. Since then, major transmission systems have been installed, transporting more natural gas than ever.

Moreover, investment was directed toward natural gas exploration, drilling, and transportation. Today, natural gas is an important world energy source and a key driver of the global economy.

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Applications of Natural Gas

Natural gas is used for several applications, some of the most popular applications of natural gas include:

• Power generation in gas-fired power stations or thermal power stations (A quarter of world electricity is produced from natural gas)
• Heating and cooking
• In gas-heated clothing dryers
• Alternative automobile fuel
• Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is also being in aircraft in Russia
• It is used as a feedstock for the production of ammonia (fertilizer production)
• Used to produce hydrogen through the method of hydrogen reformer
• Also used in the production of fabrics, steel, glass, plastic, synthetic oil, and many other products

Is Natural Gas Renewable Energy?

I hope you know the distinction between renewable energy and non-renewable energy. Renewable energy is one that can be replenished quickly and has an unlimited supply, such as solar energy, wind energy, geothermal, etc.

While nonrenewable energy is an energy resource that is in limited supply and it takes millions of years to regenerate in nature. Examples of non-renewable energy include fossil fuels, coal, etc.

Since natural gas is a fossil fuel that takes millions of years to replenish, it is not a renewable energy resource.

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Traditional natural gas is not renewable. However, there is a renewable alternative, i.e., renewable natural gas (RNG) or biogas, which is derived from mostly organic waste material such as food waste, garden clippings, animal waste, crop-residual, and from degradable carbon sources such as wood, paper, and cardboard.

RNG is eco-friendlier than traditional natural gas. The progress in biogas is promising, as per an estimate, the United States will produce more than 10 trillion cubic feet of Renewable natural gas by 2030, which will be critical in mitigating climate change.

How Natural Gas is Related to Climate Change?

The extraction and combustion of natural gas release a number of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane. Natural gas is therefore a major contributor to climate change. Along with the combustion, leakage of methane from transmission pipelines is another issue with natural gas.

However, compared to other fossil fuels like coal and oil, the combustion of gas has relatively lower emissions of soot, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. Therefore, natural gas is preferred over other fossil fuels.

Nevertheless, natural gas is a major climate change agent. According to estimates, globally, natural gas is responsible for around 7.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide in 2020. Therefore, to achieve net-zero targets and mitigate climate change, we need a transition to renewable energy sources.

Can Renewable Energy Replace Natural Gas?

Natural gas is a non-renewable and unreliable energy source. Therefore, the transition from natural gas to renewable energy is critical. There are many renewable energy sources, including biogas, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, green hydrogen, and so on.

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But the real question is, can renewable energy replace natural gas completely? Yes, there is potential. But the current infrastructure and investment volume are insufficient. If sufficient funding is provided to make the transition, then natural gas can be replaced.

Conclusion

Natural gas is definitely not a renewable source of energy. Hence, there is a dire need for a transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources that offer better energy security.