Natural gas is a fossil energy source found in underground deposits. It consists mainly of methane and is extracted by drilling. Once extracted, it can be carried across pipelines. Alternatively, it can be cooled to a temperature of –161 ºC, at which point the gas becomes liquid. The resulting liquefied natural gas (LNG) is much smaller in volume and can be transported in special ships (methane carriers).
Natural gas is widely used in homes, industries and power plants. In the home, it is used for cooking, hot water and household heating and cooling (HVAC). In industry, it is used to generate heat and as a raw material in chemical processes. It is also used in power generation, since it allows rapid electricity production in combined cycle power plants and has lower carbon emissions than other fossil fuels such as coal and oil.
In transport, natural gas is a cleaner alternative to traditional fuels. Vehicles that run on compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) give off lower levels of local pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and particulates, thus helping to improve air quality in cities.
Although natural gas is not a renewable source, it will play an important role in the energy transition. Thanks to its lower carbon emissions, it can be used as a stop-gap while renewables —such as solar, wind and hydro energy— are being developed and rolled out. In this context, natural gas can be used to ensure energy supply at times when renewable sources are not sufficient — for example on days with no wind or little sunlight.
