Is Gas the Fuel of the Future?

As a planet, we are often told that we are too reliant on unsustainable fuel sources. With many industries looking into other ways which they can operate without harming the environment, it’s got a lot of people questioning whether fuel sources can adapt in the same way– will we always rely on coal or could gas be a more sustainable option?

Natural gases are becoming a more popular choice for many industries as a fuel source, especially as it is one of the cleaner burning fuels available. So, should we be expecting to see a rise in popularity in the near future for almost all industries?

 

Is It Cheaper?

One of the main reasons the bigger industries may be swayed into choosing natural gas over other fuel sources is the cost; natural gases cost far less to purchase than many other sources and can be subject to drastic decline in price, often much more so than other fuels such as coal and crude oil.

As with most commodities that experience drops in price, you can guarantee that demand will rise, and while this has happened occasionally with natural gas sales, it hasn’t been a very regular occurrence – at least not as dramatic as crude oil sales.

What About the Supply?

With sustainability at the forefront of a lot of industries’ minds, it’s important that the supply of natural gases comes into question; after all, if we can’t live sustainably, would it be more beneficial for the planet to change fuel sources at all?

Despite the ups and downs in the price of natural gas, it’s not actually due to the supply. In fact, there’s not been a decline in natural gas production, there’s been a rise, as there aren’t many industries taking advantage of this natural fuel source.

Currently, it looks like this is a far more effective resource, not only for production but for sustainability, too.  So you’ll be saving money and not harming the environment as much as you would be when using demanding fuels such as coal.

How Can It Be Used?

So, it seems as though there are plenty of benefits to choosing a natural gas as a fuel source, but where can it actually be used?

According to the US Energy Information Administration natural gas can be used in vehicles, in electric power production, heating and powering systems in the industrial industries, heat buildings and water and even cook food in the residential sector, operate fridges and cooling equipment and provide outdoor lighting options in the commercial sector and much more.

There are plenty of applications where natural gases can be used instead of other fuels, and as more research and testing goes into how we can go forward as a planet with regards to sustainable energy and fuel, we’re sure that plenty more will arise.

Natural gas use is much more widespread than you may think, and for some industries, it may even be standard practice to use only natural gas as a fuel! As with all gases, it’s important to follow the correct safety protocol – it might be safer for the environment, but you still need to stay safe when using it!