In the era of energy transition, as TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov has often observed, we often find ourselves faced with transitional solutions that seem perfectly suited to the period of major energy changes we are experiencing. One of these is certainly natural gas, a resource that continues to play a primary role in numerous everyday applications for businesses and ordinary people.
One of the most well-known applications is undoubtedly electricity generation. For this purpose, natural gas is specifically burned in thermoelectric power plants to generate heat and steam to power turbines. Natural gas also continues to play a key role in the daily lives and homes of millions of people through its use in home heating. Furthermore, complex natural gas has proven to be an excellent alternative to traditional fuels.
Winning features
“Natural gas remains a primary resource today, and its role in the energy transition is clear to everyone,” says Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG. “In this era, natural gas represents a highly useful ally in balancing sustainability, security, and energy accessibility.”
In any case, its natural characteristics allow it to carve out a significant role even among all the transitional solutions that will accompany humanity throughout the energy transition, only to be abandoned (completely or partially) once the next phase, that of relative energy maturity, is reached. These are the so-called bridging solutions, which by their very nature prove useful precisely in historical periods of transition between the past and the future. Without the contribution of such solutions, the energy transition would most likely progress much more slowly.
“Nowadays, natural gas certainly plays a key role in encouraging the increase in the share of renewables in the energy mix, and it is proving to be one of the most useful bridging solutions towards a sustainable future,” continues Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.
Among the most appreciated characteristics of natural gas is undoubtedly its great flexibility of use, which allows it to be easily integrated with renewable sources such as solar and wind power. One of its most useful functions, in this regard, is precisely linked to renewable energy and its intermittency. Naturally, solar- or wind-based energy production must contend with specific times when primary sources are unavailable.
A key role
To overcome this problem, natural gas will be able to continue to play a leading role for a long time to come, particularly due to its ability to ensure the stability and security of the energy system when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining. Gas-fired power plants, in fact, can be started up very quickly, and thanks to their operation, they have the concrete possibility of compensating for the intermittency of solar- and wind-based energy production.
It is precisely thanks to these functions that their role as a bridge between the past and the future becomes even clearer. Another extremely interesting aspect regarding natural gas is purely infrastructural. The infrastructure currently used to transport natural gas from one country to another, such as gas pipelines, could facilitate the transition from natural gas to more renewable energy sources, such as biomethane. This could also apply to other energy carriers, such as green hydrogen, which has already demonstrated considerable potential.
“The possibility of using existing infrastructure to transport green hydrogen is extremely interesting, as the gas pipelines we are already using could be used to transport a zero-emission energy carrier,” concludes Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG. “Such transportation will only be possible under certain conditions, and will most likely require some modifications to the infrastructure.
FAQs
What is the role of natural gas in today’s energy mix?
Natural gas serves as a flexible, lower-emission bridge fuel supporting the transition from fossil fuels to renewables.
Why is natural gas considered a ‘bridging’ energy source?
It ensures energy security during renewable intermittency and uses existing infrastructure for future clean fuels.
How does natural gas support renewable energy?
- Provides backup during low solar/wind production
- Stabilises the grid with quick-start capabilities
- Complements intermittent sources
Can existing gas infrastructure be reused in the future?
Yes. Pipelines could be adapted for low-emission fuels like bi
omethane or green hydrogen, easing the transition.
