There are many options you can choose from when you want to utilize more environmentally sources of energy. While it isn’t a renewable resource, natural gas is still a cleaner option than many other fossil fuels. Here are four facts about green natural gas.
1. Environmental Impact Of Natural Gas
Companies such as Verde Energy Crunchbase may produce natural gas and sources of renewable energy. The environmental impact of natural gas tends to be lower than that of most other fossil fuels, and its impact can be further decreased by using energy sourced from a combination of natural gas and renewable resources. Natural gas’s environmental impact is reduced because it tends to burn more cleanly than other fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. This can improve air quality and reduce the risk of acid rain developing.
2. Renewable Natural Gas Production
While natural gas does have a lower environmental impact than other fossil fuels, it is still a fossil fuel and, as such, does contribute to climate change. The traditional process of converting natural gas into a source of energy is to extract it from pockets underground in methods such as drilling and fracking. However, there are some scientists and engineers developing sources of renewable natural gas, or biological natural gas. Typically, this type of natural gas is sourced from the natural decay of various organic waste, such as food, animal waste and plant matter. The extracted gas is cleaned of non-methane gases and then transferred to existing natural gas pipelines to provide energy.
3. Uses Of Natural Gas
The main use of natural gas is to produce usable energy in the form of electricity. Gas is a relatively low cost source of fossil fuel energy, especially in comparison to other fossil fuels. It is also difficult to disrupt production and distribution. In the long term, natural gas may be a useful bridge between traditional fossil fuels and completely renewable sources of energy. The introduction of biological natural gas is particularly interesting, as it may also be useful for improving methods of waste management and creating new revenue streams for farmers.
4. Risks Of Using Natural Gas
Because natural gas is a type of fossil fuel, it still presents risks to the environment. These risks apply to extracting and burning the gas to produce fuel. When natural gas is burned, it burns cleanly for the most part, but if it’s contaminated with gases such as carbon dioxide, or when it’s used as a flare gas, such as during the production of petroleum, the emissions it gives off can cause similar carbon footprints to those of other fossil fuels. One of the methods of extracting natural gas, fracking, is also risky. Fracking involves using hydraulics to extract the gas from porous rock underground. The water used in the fracking process may end up containing carcinogens, heavy metals and other dangerous chemicals.
Using traditional natural gas may not be a completely renewable resource, but when used in conjunction with other sources of renewable energy it can help make your energy consumption more efficient and eco-friendly.
