3 Ways Oil and Gas Will Support the Transition to Clean Energy

Most people agree with the need to transition to cleaner energy sources, but even among those who agree, there is a vast range of voices and opinions on the matter. The change to clean energy will not happen overnight, and it will be built on the back of the existing oil and gas industry.

Here are a few ways that will happen.

Cleaner Burning Fuel

We know that natural gas gives off fewer carbon dioxide emissions than coal or oil, making it an energy source that is especially important for countries that need cleaner-burning fuels so people can breathe clean air. In a June 2019 report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasted that in the next five years, 40 percent of the demand for natural gas will come from China.

Help to Power the Move to Clean Energy

Natural gas will also help to power the movement away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy options, such as electrification. This change will take time, and natural gas will continue to play a role as a cleaner-burning supplement when renewable energy is not available in reliable supply.

Pipelines Can Deliver Alternative Fuels

Industry and governments are looking into ways to safely and efficiently use hydrogen to deliver clean energy through the existing pipeline system. In the U.K., pilot projects to launch a hydrogen network will use the current gas pipeline system for its delivery. This is part of their plan to reach a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Also, pipelines will transport carbon dioxide captured from the atmosphere for reuse or storage. This will play an important part in reducing emissions and increasing an environmentally responsible energy supply.

Petro-chemical products from oil and natural gas liquids will continue to be essential ingredients in new renewable energy production facilities, including solar and wind. To learn more about the future of the oil and gas industry, follow the Submar blog.