NATURAL GAS
Environmental Impacts
Natural gas is the cleanest of all the fossil fuels
- Comprised mostly of methane
- Emits Carbon Dioxide and water vapor (the same compounds released when we breathe)
- Natural gas combustion releases little sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, almost no ash or particulate matter, and low levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other reactive hydrocarbons, unlike other fossil fuels
- Combustion of natural gas emits almost 30% less carbon dioxide than oil, and just under 45% less carbon dioxide than coal, which means it contributes less to global warming caused by CO2 emissions
- Although methane, natural gas's main component, is able to trap heat 21 times more effectively than CO2, increases in natural gas usage decreases the overall emissions
- Natural gas use emits low levels of nitrogen oxides, and virtually no particulate matter, so it helps combat smog formation - A 1995 study by the Coalition for Gas-Based Environmental Solutions: in the Northeast, smog and ozone-causing emissions decreased by 50 to 70 percent switching to natural gas by electric generators and industrial installations in the summer |
|
|
Source EPA City smog |
- Natural gas combustion emits 90% less particulates than oil combustion and 99% less than burning coal
- Natural gas emits almost no sulfur dioxide and about 80% less nitrogen oxides than coal combustion, so increased use of natural gas would decrease acid rain
- Natural gas is becoming important to the generation of electricity because of its efficiency, competitive price, and low emissions
|
|
Natural gas fired electric generation and industrial application has many benefits, including these: 1. Fewer Emissions- lower levels NO, CO2, and particulates emitted; almost no SO2 or mercury emitted 2. Reduces Sludge- sludge created in coal power plants when trying to reduce amount of SO2 emitted, but since natural gases produces low levels of SO2, it's not as problematic 3. Fuel Cells- use hydrogen to generate electricity, like a battery, which produces no emissions; since natural gas is hydrogen rich, it can be used for fuel cells
|
|
source EPA Emissions from Industrial (Coal) Smokestacks = pollution |
Natural Gas Vehicles
- The Department of Energy reports that over half of all air pollution and 80% of air pollution in cities is caused by vehicles
- Vehicles using compressed natural gas have:
- 90-97% less carbon monoxide emissions
- 25% less carbon dioxide emissions
- 35-60% less nitrogen oxide emissions
- 50-75% less non-methane hydrocarbon emissions
- Simple makeup of natural gas produces less toxic and carcinogenic emissions
|
Fossil Fuel Emission Levels - Pounds per Billion Btu of Energy Input |
|||
| Pollutant | Natural Gas | Oil | Coal |
| Carbon Dioxide | 117,000 | 164,000 | 208,000 |
| Carbon Monoxide | 40 | 33 | 208 |
| Nitrogen Oxides | 92 | 448 | 457 |
| Sulfur Dioxide | 1 | 1,122 | 2,591 |
| Particulates | 7 | 84 | 2,744 |
| Mercury | 0.000 | 0.007 | 0.016 |
| Source: EIA - Natural Gas Issues and Trends 1998 | |||
 |
• natural gas home • history • formation/ production • human use • maps • future possibilities |
 |