It’s affordable, efficient and widely available, but what is natural gas and where does it come from? And more importantly – why is it a good choice to have in our homes?
Producing less than half the emissions released by coal-fired generators, natural gas accounts for 12% of the electricity generated in Australia according to the National Electricity Market, and that number’s set to increase as more people become aware of the benefits of this alternative energy source.
Natural gas accounts for 12% of the electricity generated in Australia.
What is natural gas?
Of the clue is in the name. It’s natural. The gas consists of methane and ethane and occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. It’s sometimes referred to as a fossil fuel and is formed when layers of buried prehistoric plants and animals are exposed to intense temperatures and pressure over thousands of years.
When living, these plants and animals soaked up energy from the sun, which is stored in the form of carbon. When natural gas is combusted in boilers and turbines, this stored energy is then transformed into usable power – electricity.
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What are the benefits of natural gas?
Natural gas is widely and reliably available, thanks to Australia’s extensive network of underground pipelines, it’s also very versatile. It can keep your home toasty warm with stylish heating options, power your kitchen stovetop and oven, and heat your water – including your swimming pool or hot tub. What’s more, it’s instant and powerful, and the more gas appliances you have, the more cost-efficient it becomes.
What about the environment?
The cleanest-burning fossil fuel, natural gas does produce greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other reactive hydrocarbons), but the emissions are less than half that produced by coal-fired generators. Also, in comparison to coal, natural gas releases only small amounts of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
The emissions from natural gas are less than half that produced by coal-fired generators.
Therefore, swapping from coal to natural gas is a realistic and affordable way of reducing your household’s carbon emissions, and scientists are busy working on ways to combine natural gas with renewable energy and carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) to reduce these levels even further.
Where does natural gas come from?
Most commonly, natural gas is found in large sandstone reservoirs and taken from the ground using traditional well-drilling techniques. However, by drilling deeper, natural gas has also been discovered in coal and shale rock deposits.
Once extracted, natural gas is treated to remove impurities like hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons, and transported to power plants by pipelines.
Does natural gas differ from LPG?
Yes. While natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are both hydrocarbons, their differences lie in their chemical compounds.
Want a little more detail?
Produced during the oil-refining process or extracted during the natural gas production process, LPG is made up of propane and/or butane, while methane (natural gas) is much lighter.
Scientifically speaking, LPG has a higher calorific value – or energy content – so less gas is needed to produce the same amount of heat. That said, LPG uses more oxygen in order to combust, so it’s more commonly used in smaller quantities but at a higher pressure, so that it draws in more oxygen as it burns.
Scientifically speaking, LPG has a higher calorific value – or energy content – so less gas is needed to produce the same amount of heat.
LPG can be turned into a liquid – therefore shrinking its volume – making transportation and storage easier. This means that for homes and business not connected to a natural gas or mains gas supply, LPG can be a cost effective energy source.
Is natural gas right for me?
At the end of the day your personal usage and needs need to be considered, so if you’re thinking of switching, speak to an expert and see what options would work for your home.
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