At GROEBNER, we have been a proud member and promoter of the natural gas industry for the last 45 years. Read about why we sell products and advocate for it.
Natural gas has been a source of energy used in the United States for over two centuries. From its early use as a street lighting fuel, natural gas has evolved into the clean-burning fuel for energizing our country on a much broader basis. And natural gas will continue to play a major role in the future of U.S. energy.
At GROEBNER, we have been a proud member and promoter of the natural gas industry for the last 45 years. We advocate for natural gas because we believe in the effectiveness, reliability, and resilience of natural gas. And we stay at the forefront of industry expansion and development to help you navigate what’s best for your utility’s and customers’ future.
Why Natural Gas?
Efficiency and Safety
There are many reasons our nation has used natural gas for so many years. The natural gas industry is well-regulated, but is also self-focused on improving efficiencies and safety. The delivery system for natural gas is 91% efficient from production to consumer. The physical infrastructure of the industry is continually replaced and expanded, so that the average age of gas distribution main pipelines has increased by only two years since 2004. Both mechanical and electronic failsafes are in place on this vast national system, ensuring safe fully-monitored operation. And the industry as a whole has developed a culture where every employee, supplier, and company involved feels a responsibility to our customers and communities. This is a culture GROEBNER works hard to support with our vendor network and employees as well.
Cleaner Energy
Natural gas is a cleaner energy source, with decreasing methane and CO2 emissions. It has been the single largest factor in reducing energy sector emissions to the current 27-year lows. As an example, residential emissions have decreased by 50% per customer over the past six decades. Methane emissions per unit of natural gas have declined 56% since 1990.
Widespread Usage
Natural gas plays a substantial role in our daily lives. In 2019, the largest percentage (38.4%) of the electricity in the U.S. was generated by natural gas. It is the primary source of electricity in 19 states. Also, thousands of products from your daily life got their start from natural gas. This includes such products as furniture, paint, carpeting, piping, and more.
Value over Electrification
The idea of complete residential electrification is being floated in some sectors. Natural gas has many advantages over going with complete electrical energy. There are lower operating costs with natural gas, due to lower emissions and overall consumption. Residential electrification could increase annual energy costs by $750-$910 per customer per year (while only providing a less than 2% decrease in CO2 emissions.) And it would nearly double peak hourly demand. Natural gas also offers better reliability, as unplanned outages affect only about one in 800 customers per year. Electricity distribution systems average one outage per each customer every year.
Resilient, Reliable Energy
Resilience means a system is able to quickly recover from a high-impact, low-likelihood event such as a major disruption in a transmission pipeline. Natural gas distribution systems have proven their resilience in the face of recent years’ major weather events. The PHMSA verifies that pipelines have a 99.9% safety record and are the safest means of transporting energy. Because the systems are primarily underground, they are well-protected against storms and most other natural disasters. The physical nature of the pipelines allows for mechanical, non-electronic monitoring and operation, when needed. The industry also invests in regular safety briefings, workshops, and simulated response/recovery exercises. Natural gas utilities partner with the federal government on cybersecurity initiatives to promote awareness of potential issues and ways to mitigate possible difficulties.
Reliability refers to the utility system’s capability to maintain energy delivery in standard operating conditions, like normal variations in demand and supply. There are many reasons for this reliability (annual outages of only one customer in 800.) The national pipeline system is comprised of multiple, interconnected gas lines. These parallel lines can work in two ways. One, they can double capacity to an area as needed. Two, gas can continue to flow even if one line must be shut down for maintenance. Another factor in reliable service is local access to gas. Natural gas is generally stored near the areas in which it is used. Most pipelines also have multiple supply source points, which leads to more immediate access if one source is disrupted. This decentralized network helps ensure any disruption issues are local and more quickly pinpointed and repaired.
In addition to these resilient, reliable characteristics, geological surveys indicate the estimated supply of domestic natural gas is enough to meet our country’s energy needs for more than 110 years.
The Future of Natural Gas
With supply estimates showing domestic natural gas availability for more than a century, it’s clear that natural gas can and should be a major part of American energy solutions well into the future. Here at GROEBNER, we continue to look toward the future and your needs. We work with industry experts and our supply chain network to ensure we understand the developments being made in the natural gas industry. We will be here to support your growth needs, helping you make smart decisions for your system and your customers.
Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)
RNG utilizes methane from landfills, wastewater treatment, and agricultural processes that would otherwise be lost into the atmosphere. This methane can be treated to remove CO2 and other gases, then injected into natural gas pipelines. It can be used in the same ways that fossil natural gas is used. RNG offers fuel diversity and extended availability of natural gas. It lowers CO2, improving local air quality.
Currently, costs to capture and transport methane can be a barrier to high levels of utilization. Also, the technology to interconnect fossil and renewable natural gas is in the early stages of development. But discussions of governmental incentives are underway and technology is actively being developed and improved. GROEBNER is committed to participating in these industry deliberations, to ensure we can offer you the best information and advice as RNG use grows.
Hydrogen Blending
Hydrogen is a renewable energy source that can be made with excess electricity. This process produces an extremely clean hydrogen gas that is compatible to blend with natural gas. This resulting blend generates heat and power with even lower emissions than natural gas alone. The emerging benefits are being researched through the Energy Information Administration’s HyBlend Initiative, and early findings indicate a number of advantages.
Hydrogen produced through clean pathways, such as electricity, is the cleanest form of energy when burned. It not only blends well with natural gas, it can be injected into current gas pipeline systems, and burns in just the same way that natural gas does. Hydrogen can be stored and transported by the existing natural gas pipeline, eliminating the need for new infrastructure. This ease of storage and transport can provide weeks of back-up supply, compared to just days with batteries or capacitors. GROEBNER will stay informed on new developments in this research field to provide you with current information as you grow into the future.
GROEBNER Advocates for You
For over 45 years, GROEBNER has been honored to serve in the natural gas industry, through participation in industry associations and supporting your business and utility systems. We are committed to promoting product improvements, technological advances, and expanding roles for natural gas. As we work to improve and support the industry, we will make sure we offer you the best information, guidance, and supplies available. As you grow and change, GROEBNER will be there to partner with you in your success.
Sources: American Gas Association | Supplers Gild | Natural Gas Council | American Gas Foundation | U.S. Energy Information Association | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | U.S. Department of Energy