Models suggest that a shift from coal to cheap natural gas is unlikely to lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Natural gas is often touted as a greener fuel than coal because it produces fewer greenhouse gases, and due to advances in hydraulic fracturing technology it has become readily available.
Researchers ran five energy-economy-climate models and found that while natural gas consumption may increase by up to 170 per cent by 2050, the impact on CO2 emissions ranges from -2 per cent to +11 per cent. They suggest that cheap natural gas may reduce incentives to invest in renewable energy, but note that policy changes could counteract this.
Original research paper published in Nature on October 15, 2014.
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