Natural gas has a variety of uses beyond electricity generation, powering steam turbines, and energy production. Some notable applications include:
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Residential Heating: Used in furnaces and boilers to heat homes and buildings.
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Cooking: Utilized in gas stoves and ovens for cooking food.
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Water Heating: Employed in water heaters for residential and commercial hot water needs.
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Transportation: Natural gas can be used as a fuel for vehicles, particularly in compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) forms.
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Industrial Processes: Used as a feedstock in the production of chemicals, fertilizers, and plastics.
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Cooling Systems: Natural gas can be used in absorption chillers for air conditioning systems.
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Hydrogen Production: It serves as a primary source to produce hydrogen through steam methane reforming.
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Combined Heat and Power (CHP): Used in cogeneration systems that produce both electricity and useful heat simultaneously.
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Production of Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG): Through processes like gasification of coal or biomass.
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Biodiversity Conservation: It can be used in the conservation of habitats through funding and energy provision.
These applications illustrate that natural gas is not only a significant energy source for electricity but also plays a crucial role in residential, industrial, and commercial sectors.