Energy sources can be split into two categories:
Renewable: those which are produced on an ongoing basis and therefore cannot be exhausted by human use, such as solar, wind, hydraulic, geothermal and biomass energy.
Non-renewable: those which exist in limited supply and which, as a result, once used up cannot be replaced. Non-renewable energy sources include nuclear energy and fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas).
In recent decades, Europe has established itself at the forefront of the fight against climate change, implementing an ambitious environmental programme known as the ‘Triple 20’ which identifies a series of objectives to be met by 2020. These goals include lowering emissions, promoting the use of renewable energies and enhancing energy efficiency.
Natural gas is currently playing a crucial role in this, thanks to its contribution to lowering emissions, the support it provides for renewable energies and its high efficiency, which has led to an increasing demand for natural gas over the other fossil fuels. It is within this context that natural gas is emerging as the cleanest, safest and most efficient of all the fossil fuels, and is currently one of the primary sources of energy.
It also offers other key advantages as a means of achieving the objectives of the Triple 20, including its ability to be combined with various technologies across all sectors; its greater energy return and low level emissions; its abundance and general availability; and its accessible cost.
Also, natural gas enables the generation of electricity in combination with renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources are intermittent and require alternative energy generation to ensure continuity of supply when they themselves cannot be used. Today this role is carried out by combined cycle plants (natural gas) and hydraulic plants which automatically come online when it is not possible to draw on solar or wind energy, etc.
WORLD RESERVES
Natural gas is found in subterranean deposits. Once extracted, the heavy components are separated and impurities eliminated so as to transport it by gas pipe, either to the consumption points or to liquefaction plants so that it can then be transported in methane freighters in LNG form.
Natural gas reserves are in abundant supply throughout the world. Proved reserves, those which have a reasonable certainty (over 90%) of being recoverable at the time of their evaluation, have been estimated at 181 million Bcm. This figure stands some 1.2% higher than that of 2007 and is equal to the value for expected gas consumption over the next 60 years.
Also, technological advances are enabling inexpensive access to non-conventional gas deposits. Today 95% of non-conventional gas comes from the USA, though there are other exploration projects underway across all the world’s continents. Although they are still not counted as proved reserves, it is estimated that they would double reserves on the world level, which would be equal to 120 years of use.
Spain is one of the countries in Europe that is showing the greatest diversification in the importation of this energy source. The main supply markets of natural gas in our country are Algeria, Nigeria, countries of the Persian Gulf, Egypt and Trinidad and Tobago.
Due to its technical specifications, natural gas hasever-greater applications and industrial and domestic uses, as a result of which its demand and consumption are constantly increasing.
REGASIFICATION PLANTS IN SPAIN
In 2010, six regasification plants in Spain are fully operational in Sagunto, Huelva, Cartagena,Barcelona, Bilbao, and Mugardos. One is in phase of construction in Gijon. In Great Canary and Tenerife two are in project.
DIRECTORY OF THE GAS SECTOR
Each year, the Spanish Association of Gas publishes the Sedigas Yearbook, the only directory of companies, products, organisations and brands within the gas sector. This yearbook provides highly detailed information, presenting a broad and diverse overview of the players involved in the development of the gas industry.
