What is natural gas? What are the pros and cons and the applications?

 

What is natural gas? What are the pros and cons and the applications?

Natural gas was created millions of years ago by dead microorganisms that were covered with soil and rock layers on the seabed. Because there is no oxygen available, the organic components slowly convert into small gaseous hydrocarbons under great pressure and high temperatures. The natural gas slowly moves up through porous layers until it could go no further. Then the gas accumulated in reservoirs. Natural gas is the main energy source for heating households. But more and more households are switching off from gas and the plan is to provide households with sustainable fuels.

 

What is natural gas?

Natural gas is not sustainable , but a fossil fuel . Natural gas is a collective name for all gases that are extracted from earth layers and are only used as fossil fuel to heat households, for example. It arises from remains of plants and animals in the water. After a layer of sand and clay comes on the so-called peat, the layers are compressed and coal is created. Pressure heats up the coal and creates natural gas from coal. Because natural gas is very light, it rises and is preserved between open spaces. 

 

How is natural gas generated?

Natural gas is extracted from a drilling rig three to four kilometers deep. Here the gas is separated from water, sand and harmful substances. The gas is then burned in a power station and heat is released. The heat converts water into steam , which sets the turbine in motion again. Because the turbine is in motion, energy is generated and passed on to the electricity grid.

The steam is collected and reused for heating households.

 

The benefits of natural gas

One of the advantages of natural gas is that it is easy to transport to households via pipelines . Only humidity vapor and carbon dioxide are released. This makes natural gas a lot more environmentally friendly than coal, which is also used to generate energy. It is a resource that eventually runs out, unlike, for example, wind energy and solar energythat use sun and wind, but at the moment there is still enough natural gas for the next fifty years.


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In this way, Belgium can continue to heat households for a while and earn income with the export of natural gas to other countries. Furthermore, natural gas can be used for multiple purposes. In addition to fuel, it is also a raw material in the chemical industry. Among other things , it plays a role in the production of fertilizer .

 

The disadvantages of natural gas

But there are also a number of disadvantages to consider when using natural gas. The biggest disadvantage is that extracting natural gas is extremely bad for the environment, because of the CO2 that is released. This is not desirable, especially in combination with the current climate change. The extraction of natural gas also causes underground subsidence and shifts in the soil. This can cause earthquakes, which can damage buildings, among other things. The use of natural gas can also cause a gas leak in the house. The gas is odorless, making it less likely to be noticed. A small gas leak can cause an explosive concentration of gas to gradually build up. Furthermore, natural gas will probably be used up by the end of this century. 

 

The applications of natural gas

Natural gas is mainly used for heating and cooking in households . It is also an important fuel for power plants . It is relatively easy to transport and ensures relatively clean combustion. This means that it is widely used to generate electricity. Natural gas is also an important fuel for cars and aircraft. It is a cleaner alternative to petrol or diesel because of the low particulate emissions. Finally, it is widely used in the chemical industry for the simple structure of methane, the main component of natural gas. For example, it serves as a raw material for fertilizer, ethylene and hydrogen.


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Natural gas suppliers Belgium

The majority of energy suppliers in Belgium supply natural gas to private individuals and professionals. You can conclude a natural gas contract separately or opt for an energy package in which you switch to a new supplier for gas and electricity. Discover all natural gas suppliers in Belgium here or view the natural gas prices .

 

If you want to choose a new energy supplier and you think it is important that you know where the energy comes from (Belgium or abroad), whether the energy that is offered is green and not gray, whether the energy comes from nuclear power plants or not…


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Then you can use our tool to compare all  energy suppliers  and find out whether they use 100% green energy or not.

 

Take the energy test and save on your bill every year.

Do not spend hours more with comparing energy prices and find the best energy supplier! Request a no-obligation audit and switch to the best energy supplier at the moment.

 


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