A future without gas?

Traditionally, energy generation was solely based on the principle of burning things, a practice that was considered the only way to power economic activity. Hundreds of years since the start of the Industrial Revolution, we are now in the throes of a major shift away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy. Meanwhile, the combustion of coal, gas and oil persists, like a hangover from the past.

Natural gas, consisting of methane, is mined both from conventional fields and via unconventional operations targeting coal seam gas, shale gas and tight gas (gas trapped in rock). In Australia, the reticulated gas grid is largely limited to metropolitan areas, while in New Zealand it serves population centres on the North Island. LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is a different fuel largely made up of butane and propane and is commonly used in areas that the natural gas network does not reach. Major uses of gas include power generation, heating, manufacturing and as a transport fuel.