Natural gas is 'better than coal'

Natural gas power is just as effective and produces fewer emissions that coal, it has been claimed.

Analysis from the Worldwatch Institute and the Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisors suggested that over the full cycle of production, distribution and use, natural gas emits just over half the greenhouse gases as coal for the equivalent energy output.

The findings clarified that natural gas is still a cleaner option than coal or gas as it reduces emissions overall, despite the recent increase in the estimates for methane emissions attributed to its use.

"Despite a substantial increase in the methane assumed to be emitted during natural gas production, we found that US natural gas-fired electricity generation still released 47 per cent fewer greenhouse gases than coal from source to use," said Saya Kitasei, a Worldwatch Institute Sustainable Energy Fellow and one of the contributing writers for the study.

However, they suggested that the methane produced could be captured and sold on in a win-win scenario which would reduce emissions and increase profit.