Our daily life is fueled by theelectricity, but where does it come from? Electricity is used every day: to turn on the light, plug in the phone, or heat food in the microwave.
Electricity demand in the United States, but also in Europe, peaks in both the summer and winter months, driven by the need to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
In particular, since the second week of July 2024, prices in the main European electricity markets have increased, due to the decline in wind energy production and the rising hot temperatures.
Italy recorded the largest increase: +12%, followed by increases in the British and Spanish markets, of +4.9% and +4.4% respectively.
In addition to the increased demand for electricity, the general decline in wind energy production also had an impact.
How Natural Gas Is Converted Into Electricity
Here's how natural gas is converted into electricity:
Step 1: Extraction
The natural gas is collected from beneath the earth's surface. Pipelines collect natural gas from multiple wells to a central point where it is treated to remove water or waste products, such as helium and carbon dioxide. The treated gas, also known as methane, moves through transmission pipelines to utilities, including power plants.
Step 2: Conversion
Power plants begin the conversion process using a boiler, a combustion turbine, or both.
- When using a boiler, water is boiled, creating steam that turns a turbine and generates electricity.
- When using a combustion turbine, compressed air and burning natural gas create a gas that turns the blades of a turbine connected to an electric generator.
These methods can be used independently or together.
In a combined cycle system, the heat energy created by a gas turbine in turn generates electrical energy in another turbine.
Step 3: Power
After the electrical energy is created, it is sent through power lines for residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation use.
The natural gas It is also a great partner for renewable energy, including solar and wind, because when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining, natural gas is right there to provide the needed power generation.
Like oil and coal, natural gas is a fossil fuel. But unlike its counterparts, it is abundant. Natural gas is even considered relatively “clean,” emitting less carbon dioxide and pollutants than some alternatives. But where does it come from? And how is natural gas converted into energy?
Where does natural gas come from?
Natural gas originates from the remains of plants and animals. This matter contains carbon, obtained from the energy absorbed through the sun during their life. Over thousands of years, these remains become covered with decaying material that traps the silt underneath.
Ultimately, this produces natural gas that remains beneath the Earth's surface until released by artificial extraction methods.
To access natural gas, we need to know where to find it.
Scientists can predict the location of natural gas because it accumulates in natural “reservoirs,” trapped in the earth after rising through porous rock. Certain rock formations and landscapes are more likely to contain natural gas reservoirs, such as sloping land that has folded in on itself to create a visible dome shape. The gas is also associated with other fossil fuels, meaning reserves are likely to be found near oil fields or coal seams.
The fracking is an extraction method used to release natural gas from shale formations.
The schist is particularly difficult to permeate, which is why fracking fluid is injected to push the gas out. It's a controversial practice, but one that has opened up additional gas reserves, especially in the United States, where fracking has boomed in recent years.
How is natural gas used to produce energy?
After being extracted from the ground, it is transported via pipeline to a specialized facility. Hydrocarbon condensate can form in what should be a dry gas stream, which is why accurate measurement of water vapor content can help identify potential corrosion damage to the pipeline, as discussed further in: The Physics of Natural Gas Sampling.
In the specialized facility, impurities such as helium and carbon dioxide are removed before it is taken to a power plant where it drives a steam turbine or combustion turbine. Both methods generate electricity, although the latter is more efficient.
Natural gas is not only used to generate electricity. It is often used as a household tool for cooking and heating, through gas hobs and central heating systems. It can be used in homes that do not have access to the electricity grid and can even power cars and airplanes.
The environmental impact of natural gas
THE'use of natural gas as a form of energy it has an impact on the environment, but not to the extent of other fossil fuels such as coal and oil. The reason is that during the combustion of natural gas the emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides are lower. However, strict environmental controls are still needed, especially to ensure that methane, a potent and harmful gas, is not released during combustion or transportation.
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