POWER July 2023 - 32

COMMENTARY
Three Ways Natural
Gas Will Bolster
Decarbonization Efforts
Kevin Greiner
I
n the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
natural gas has emerged as an important but underappreciated
energy source to help transition to a lower carbon
world. Combining affordability, versatility, and environmental
sustainability, natural gas is a valuable resource in the race
toward decarbonization.
At Gas South, we recognize the lasting impact natural gas
providers can have as a purveyor of and partner to renewable
energy sources. We have also made innovative investments in
green energy. Here are three ways natural gas will help mitigate
carbon production and prepare us for a greener future.
Fuel Switching
Natural gas, the second-most used power source globally, has
fueled generation after generation of industrial and technological
advances. Major corporations are increasingly finding value
in switching over to natural gas. Fuel switching could include
swapping out coal for natural gas in power generation, using
natural gas for residential and commercial heating rather than
oil or non-renewable electricity, or employing natural gas for
transportation and industrial use.
Natural gas surpasses its peers in terms of affordability, flexibility,
and cleanliness. Compared to other traditional energy
sources, it has a lower carbon footprint, making it an ideal partner
in reducing reliance on higher-emitting fossil fuels without
sacrificing energy output. As organizations and individuals rely
less on oil and coal, natural gas can quickly fill in energy gaps
without compromising effectiveness.
Public demand for natural gas is also on the rise. A global
survey by Pew Research Center reported that 69% of surveyed
adults are in favor of natural gas expansion.
Greening Up the Natural Gas Supply Chain
The natural gas industry is actively decarbonizing itself
through greater investment in renewable natural gas (RNG),
or natural gas derived from the decomposition of organic
waste material. RNG can significantly reduce the environmental
footprint of natural gas and some feedstocks can
achieve a negative carbon intensity due to the avoidance of
concentrated methane (a highly potent greenhouse gas) being
released into the atmosphere.
Gas South, for instance, has launched FlexRNG, which is a
blend of RNG's environmental attributes, and verified carbon
offsets generated by a range of carbon-reducing projects. We
are on the front-end of helping our industrial customers minimize
their carbon footprints and align with their sustainability
strategies and emissions reduction targets. While renewable
natural gas alone can be cost-prohibitive, the inclusion of verified
carbon offsets both makes the product more accessible
and ensures that the remaining emissions that are not being
reduced through RNG are neutralized.
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RNG buy-in is increasing rapidly. North American RNG operators
have brought 176 new RNG-producing facilities online
since 2020 as opposed to the 31 facilities seen back in 2011,
according to the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG
Coalition), an industry trade group.
Pairing Up with Renewables
Natural gas acts as a worthy complement to renewables due
to its high dispatchability to quickly meet shifts in demand, and
plug in where solar and wind energy fall short due to unpredictable
fluctuations in power production. Wind power can be
inconsistent depending on the weather, and the ability for wind
to power systems across state lines is hampered by piecemeal
progress in energy storage technology and significant interconnection
queues. In the same way, solar energy is only at its
strongest on clear, sunny days, and the energy it generates
isn't easily stored.
Factors like cost and uncertain reliability signal the transition
will be a slow and steady process that will require supplementation
by denser energy sources-likely for decades
to come. The infrastructure needed to convert to renewable
systems, from transmission lines that carry electricity across
long distances to high-capacity batteries that can store energy
for extended periods, will take time to establish. If demand
for electricity, which is expected to grow an average of 3%
over the next three years, according to the International Energy
Agency's (IEA's) Electricity Market Report 2023, continues
to outpace expansion in renewable sectors such as wind
and solar, traditional energy fuels will need to step in to help
manage the swell for the foreseeable future.
Into the Future
It stands that natural gas has played and will continue to
play a critical role in energy production, and the positive impact
of natural gas expansion is measurable. According to a
2019 IEA report, the switch from coal to gas has prevented
approximately 500 million tons of CO2
from entering the
atmosphere since 2010-equivalent to adding 200 million
electric-powered, zero-carbon vehicles on the road during
the same nine-year period.
By replacing oil and coal in energy generation, tapping into
renewable natural gas, and deploying the best available production
and transmission technologies, natural gas is wellpositioned
to continue supporting decarbonization efforts. The
success of these efforts is the strongest proof point that natural
gas will remain a part of the energy conversation as we collectively
work to mitigate carbon production. ■
-Kevin Greiner is president and CEO of Gas South,
a natural gas marketer serving more than
450,000 customers in 14 states. He has
more than 20 years of experience as
a leader in the energy sector.
www.powermag.com
POWER | July 2023
http://www.powermag.com
POWER July 2023

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