There’s been a lot said about lithium-ion and solar photovoltaic batteries, with many people asserting that they’re the most important advancements in energy technology. While it’s true that these are hugely vital, the most consequential advancement in this area is natural gas. 

It’s also undeniable that the United States is a top producer of gas. People remain focused on oil and the economic impact it has on the countries that drill significant amounts of it without realizing that countries that have control over natural gas will remain geopolitically influential. But why is natural gas so crucial?

Fueling Energy Progress

When the talks of achieving net-zero scenarios were in full force just a few years ago, there was a feeling that investments in natural gas would fade. The spikes in energy demands, however, have brought the need for natural gas to the forefront. 

The existing power grid wasn’t made for the current technological atmosphere. With the rise of AI technology has come a spike in data centers, which are known for their power usage. The data centers that are built now are much larger than they’ve ever been, which means the amount of energy needed has also become close to unsustainable.

To help counter this, scientists have brought forth solar and wind power. These are excellent options in their own right, but they’re not enough to stave off the energy crisis that could be on the way. 

That’s where gas-fired generators come in. These allow data centers and other high-energy usage infrastructures to power themselves. At the very least, they can offset the serious dent they make on the grid. Without gas-fired power generation, using renewable resources alone just won’t cut it. 

Making Gas-Fired Power Generation Future-Proof

Carbon emission regulations are bound to get tighter. It’s important for the United States to plan ahead so that accessing and using gas-fired power generation is still possible, no matter the emission regulations in place. 

Enchanted Rock, a microgrid developer out of Texas, offers solutions in the form of distributed gas generation. The company builds gas generator sets that are not only more efficient than diesel and other options, but they’re also quieter and cleaner. This means that they’re approved to run for longer hours, even outside emergency situations. 

Allan Schurr, the company’s chief commercial officer, has seen how vital Enchanted Rock’s services are during a crisis. 

Using gas-fired power generators can help take some of the strain from the grid while also focusing on electricity resilience. By decentralizing energy, the country is better protected against storms that can damage central grids and cyberattacks that could target them. 

Enchanted Rock is leading the way in future-proofing natural gas access. No matter how tight carbon emission regulations get, it’s possible for gas-fired power generators to still function and produce the quantity of energy that solar, wind, and even battery power on their own can’t create. 

Learn more by reading the original article at Steel for Fuel.