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New discoveries of shale and other unconventional natural gas has dramatically reshaped the energy outlook of the U.S. and has the potential to positively influence our overall trade balance and future economic growth rate for decades to come. How this new domestic energy source is utilized and managed will determine to a great extent how beneficial and how long lasting the economic impact will be. Understanding and fostering the proper roles for both the government and the private sector in the energy equation has always been important but will be critical at this time if the U.S. is to take full advantage of this new unique opportunity.
There are many issues and RD&D opportunities associated with our new natural gas resource. These include economic, environmental, safety as well as those that will affect the consumer and the general public. Up to now most of the emphasis has been on the exploration, production and delivery of natural gas. Little emphasis has been spent on how to best utilize natural gas. A recent MIT study [ref] identifies several significant RD&D opportunities for expanding the use and creating alternative applications for natural gas in power generation, transportation and higher efficiency industrial, commercial and residential processes. Opportunities in power generation not only include higher efficiency gas turbines but also developing hybrid systems that can couple with solar, wind and other renewable energy sources to further reduce CO2 emissions. Transportation opportunities can involve extending natural gas vehicles from commercial trucks and bus fleets to light duty vehicles. This can include direct use as compressed or adsorbed gas storage systems or new pathways to convert natural gas to alternative liquid fuels. Opportunities also exist to develop higher efficiency heat pumps, combined heat and power turbines and fuel cells and a variety of other improved efficiency heating and cooling devices.
Exploring new and alternative uses of natural gas will involve many more stakeholders and players from power, vehicle, building and even hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. In fact there are many similarities and synergies between natural gas and hydrogen utilization especially around the convergence of gas and electrical systems.