End Use of Natural Gas in the United States.

End Use of Natural Gas in the United States: Electric power generation, industry, residences and commercial buildings were the major natural gas consuming sectors in the United States during calendar year 2013. Only 0.14% went to use as a vehicle fuel. Image by Geology.com using data from the United States Energy Information Administration.

Natural Gas: A Fuel and a Raw Material

Natural gas is used in an amazing number of ways. Although it is widely seen as a cooking and heating fuel in most U.S. households, natural gas has many other energy and raw material uses that are a surprise to most people who learn about them.

In the United States, most natural gas is burned as a fuel. In 2012 about 30% of the energy consumed across the nation was obtained from natural gas [1]. It was used to generate electricity, heat buildings, fuel vehicles, heat water, bake foods, power industrial furnaces, and even run air conditioners!

22 Trillion Cubic Feet

During 2009 the United States consumed about 22.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. That's enough gas to fill a room with a footprint the size of Pennsylvania and about 18 feet high. Most that gas was delivered to nearly 70 million homes and places of business thrmore than a million miles of natural gas pipelines.

Uses of Natural Gas in US Homes

Over one-half of the homes in the United States are supplied with natural gas. About 21% of the natural gas consumed in the United States during 2013 went to homes [1]. This gas is delivered to homes through pipelines or in tanks as CNG (compressed natural gas). Most of the natural gas consumed in homes is used for space heating and water heating. It is also used in stoves, ovens, clothes dryers, lighting fixtures and other appliances.

Surprising Uses Of Natural Gas: Natural gas is used to manufacture a wide variety of products. The fertilizer being spread in the top left image might have been made with ammonia produced from natural gas; the plastic parts of the spreader and the operator's clothing were most likely produced with the help of natural gas as an ingredient or as a fuel in the factory. Most bricks and cement are produced using natural gas as a heat source. Many pharmaceuticals and plastic bottles are made with natural gas as an ingredient. Cereal and fruits are often baked or dried using natural gas as a heat source. Images copyright iStockphoto and (clockwise) Bill Grove, John Leung, Kristine Slipson, and Amanda Rohde.

Electric Power Generation.

The electric power industry was the largest consumer of natural gas in the United States during 2013. About 34% of natural gas consumption was used to make electricity.

Of the three fossil fuels used for electric power generation (coal, oil, natural gas), natural gas emits the least carbon dioxide per unit of energy produced. It emits 30% less carbon dioxide than burning oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than burning coal. Burning natural gas also releases lower amounts of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulates and mercury when compared to coal and oil

As the United States becomes more concerned about climate change, carbon dioxide emissions, and air quality, the use of natural gas for electricity generation is expected to increase.

Industrial Uses of Natural Gas.

Natural gas is used in a wide variety of manufacturing processes. About 31% of the 2013 consumption of natural gas in the United States was by industry. Natural gas is used as  both a raw material and as a source of heat.

Natural gas is an ingredient used to make fertilizer, antifreeze, plastics, pharmaceuticals and fabrics. It is also used to manufacture a wide range of chemicals such as ammonia, methanol, butane, ethane, propane, and acetic acid.

Many manufacturing processes require heat to melt, dry, bake, or glaze a product. Natural gas is used as a heat source in making glass, steel, cement, bricks, ceramics, tile, paper, food products and many other commodities. Natural gas is also used at many industrial facilities for incineration.

Oil & Gas and Pipeline Industry Use.

Companies that produce and transport natural gas are also consumers. Transporting natural gas through pipelines requires compression stations to keep the gas pressurized and flowing through the pipeline. Many of these compression stations use natural gas as a fuel. Many oil refineries use natural gas for heating and power generation.

Natural Gas as a Vehicle Fuel

Natural gas has an enormous potential for increased use as a vehicle fuel. The main barriers to this have been the short range of the vehicles, limited refueling options, and slow refueling times. However, over the past few years refueling station prices have dropped to just a few hundred dollars, and these can be placed in residences where the vehicles can be refueled overnight or between trips.

Since about half of all residences in the United States are supplied with natural gas, the potential to increase the number of natural gas vehicles on the road is very high. In addition, the discovery of natural gas in shale deposits around the country has increased the availability of gas and decreased the price.

Natural gas has significant advantages over gasoline and diesel fuel. Natural gas vehicles emit 60-90% less smog-producing pollutants and 30-40% less greenhouse gas emissions. It also costs less per mile to operate a natural gas vehicle compared to a gasoline or diesel vehicle And, natural gas is produced locally instead of imported.