Natural gas is an energy that presents many benefits against others such as being cleaner in waste emission, and being more efficient, by having a cheaper or easiest to store. However, contrary to what many people think, natural gas is not a renewable energy, but a fossil fuel, such as coal or oil and, in fact, the aforementioned advantages have on these other two fossil fuels.
In this ecology article, we analyze Why natural gas is a non -renewable energy.
What is natural gas
Natural gas is within the fossil energy or fuelslike 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 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 in the 60s as fuel. It is also used as raw material in some chemical processes.
At the moment, Natural gas occurs in two ways:
- Liquefied gas: It is the guy who becomes liquid. It is made with a mixture of butane and propane. This form of gas can be found in homemade bassons. And is obtained during oil extraction or during refining. This way of obtaining continues to be 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 used for vehicles.
Know more about what fossil fuels are and how they formed in this other ecology article.
Natural Gas Properties
This gas mixture is lighter than water, it does not present toxicity, it is colorless and toilet (in its origin). Its majority component is Methane (CH4)although it can also contain other gases such as ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8) or Pentano (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, at the LACQ site (France), it is associated with sulfur compounds.
To obtain the energy contained in the hydrocarbon bonds of this gas, it undergoes a thermodynamic reaction of exothermic oxidation, resulting in the Energy production in heat and chemical energy. The calorific power 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 Less waste emission and other atmospheric emissions with respect to other fossil energies, and that their high efficiency for obtaining electricity in thermal 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 transformations, storage and transport is the form that poses the most problems, in addition to requiring the highest investments. This is why, usually in the commercial market, it is preferred to use natural gas in its gaseous state. Among the Current use of natural gas are:
- 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 is a cleaner and less expensive energy.
- Use at home: Natural gas serves as energy to cook, heating or as a method to heat the water. As an alternative in heating, there are different types of ecological heating, leaving aside this fossil fuel.
- Industrial processes: In textile, plastics or steel industries. Natural gas is also raw material to obtain nitrogen fertilizers.
Why natural gas is not a renewable source
Natural gas is a fossil fuel which has been formed for millions of years on Earth as a result of an anaerobic decomposition (without oxygen) of remains of dead organisms buried under the seabed or in lakes. This process submitted these materials to high pressures and temperatures, which was altering them in their chemical composition. Natural gas is one of the gases that emerged during this decomposition and were buried in large underground bags.
From the production process it can be seen that it is a non -renewable energy source, since we obtain that gas, which It cannot be renewed within a relatively normal time Or short, but it would take millions of years to therefore be again and it is not certain that it could be formed again due to current oxygen levels on Earth.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why natural gas is a non -renewable energywe recommend that you enter our category of non -renewable energy.
