Nature Gas Energy

By: Marisa Fernandez and Jen Ordonez

What is nature gas energy and where does it come from?

The energy that the plants and animals originally obtained from the sun is stored in the form of carbon in natural gas.

Natural gas is combusted to generate electricity, enabling this stored energy to be transformed into usable power.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel formed when layers of buried plants and animals are exposed to intense heat and pressure over thousands of years.

How does natural gas convert to energy?

First, wells are drilled into the ground to remove the natural gas.

Second, the natural gas is extracted and treated at gas plants to remove impurities.

Thirdly, Pipelines then transport the natural gas from the gas plants to power plants.

Forth, the power plant burns the gas in a boiler to produce steam, which is then used by a steam turbine to generate electricity.

ProsIt creates electricity, heats buildings, cooks food, dries clothes, and powers manufacturing operations

Recent technologies have made the exploration and production more economical

Natural gas accounts for 23% of the world’s energy consumption and demand is growing

It’s an environmentally friendly and efficient energy source and it’s the cleanest burning conventional fuel because it produces lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions than heavier hydrocarbon fuels

ConsThe regions with natural gas surpluses are usually oceans away from the greatest demand

An increase of natural gas development threatens rivers and streams that provide clean drinking water, recreational activities, and habitat for wildlife

When it goes unchecked, natural gas has the potential to pollute clean water for millions of people

When natural gas is burned, carbon dioxide is released into the air, which contributes to global warming