At 80 billion cubic feet per day, the U.S. just hit another record for dry natural gas production, a 46 percent increase since 2008 when the "Shale gas revolution" started.
In particular, mounting domestic supply has increasingly pushed us to more gas use in the electricity sector, which accounts for 35 percent of our total gas usage, especially noticeable the past week with air conditioners ramping up to fight the heat wave.
As the U.S. Energy Information Administration has shown, electricity is unique in that it is the only sector where emissions are actually declining, thanks mostly to natural gas.
The climate group Carbon Brief reports that more natural gas use is the primary driver for declining CO2 emissions in the U.S. power sector.
The Brookings Institution concludes that natural gas plants cut 2.6 times more greenhouse gas emissions than wind and 4 times more than solar.
Not just lowering emissions directly by more use, a natural gas backbone for the power grid gives us the critical peaking ability to enable a deeper penetration of renewables.
Gas plants have the unique ability to quickly ramp up and hit maximum output in a matter of minutes, compensating for "When the wind isn't blowing" or "The sun isn't shining." With capacity factors in the 33-43 percent range even on good days, naturally intermittent wind and solar are "Unavailable more than they are available." So as the required backup, natural gas that enjoys a much more reliable 85-90 percent range will remain crucial as the complement for renewables.
https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2018/07/06/more_natural_gas_is_slashing_us_co2_emissions_110310.html
In particular, mounting domestic supply has increasingly pushed us to more gas use in the electricity sector, which accounts for 35 percent of our total gas usage, especially noticeable the past week with air conditioners ramping up to fight the heat wave.
As the U.S. Energy Information Administration has shown, electricity is unique in that it is the only sector where emissions are actually declining, thanks mostly to natural gas.
The climate group Carbon Brief reports that more natural gas use is the primary driver for declining CO2 emissions in the U.S. power sector.
The Brookings Institution concludes that natural gas plants cut 2.6 times more greenhouse gas emissions than wind and 4 times more than solar.
Not just lowering emissions directly by more use, a natural gas backbone for the power grid gives us the critical peaking ability to enable a deeper penetration of renewables.
Gas plants have the unique ability to quickly ramp up and hit maximum output in a matter of minutes, compensating for "When the wind isn't blowing" or "The sun isn't shining." With capacity factors in the 33-43 percent range even on good days, naturally intermittent wind and solar are "Unavailable more than they are available." So as the required backup, natural gas that enjoys a much more reliable 85-90 percent range will remain crucial as the complement for renewables.
https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2018/07/06/more_natural_gas_is_slashing_us_co2_emissions_110310.html
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