Yet new forms of renewable energy are not mature enough to effectively bridge the resulting deficit if worldwide energy demand increases as expected.
In order to gain time to further advance renewable energy technologies, it is crucial that we also work on improving the recovery, transport and processing of fossil fuels.
Natural gas plays the most important role here as it offers three major benefits.
Firstly, it has a higher heating value than coal or crude oil. This means that more energy can be gained from gas than from the equivalent amount of coal or crude oil.
Secondly, natural gas combustion produces fewer pollutants, residues and carbon dioxide emissions.
Finally, at current consumption levels, global natural gas reserves are forecast to last for at least 60 years, whereas experts anticipate that oil wells will run dry within the next 40 years.
However, the technologies for processing natural gas need to be improved if this fuel is to supersede crude oil as the number one source of energy.
This applies to the entire value chain, from efficient, environmentally sound development of reserves, extraction, purification and liquefaction, (Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG) to transport of the liquefied natural gas.
Our Engineering Division is a trusted partner to many natural gas energy producers. Our technologies not only increase efficiency levels, but can also help ensure that natural gas remains an affordable source of energy for decades to come, despite increasing demand from rapidly developing economies like China.
