Gas Power

Note from the Editor

Natural gas provides an important source of power for the world’s energy supply, representing more than 20% of global electricity generation. While some countries, including China and India, have seen a decline in gas-fired power production in recent years, that has largely been offset by increases in other regions, such as the U.S., Eurasia, and the Middle East.

In the U.S., specifically, natural gas–fired electric power production has been on a steady upward climb for more than 25 years. The growth has been driven by several key factors, including:

• Abundant Supply and Low Prices. The shale gas revolution has led to increased domestic natural gas production, resulting in lower prices and greater availability.
• Environmental Policies. Federal and state-level environmental regulations have encouraged a shift from coal to cleaner-burning natural gas for electricity generation.
• Efficiency and Flexibility. Modern natural gas–fired power plants, especially combined cycle gas turbines, are more efficient and flexible than older coal plants, making them attractive for both baseload and peak demand.
• Renewable Energy Integration. Natural gas plants can quickly ramp up or down, making them ideal for balancing the intermittent nature of wind and solar power.
• Coal Plant Retirements. As aging coal-fired power plants are decommissioned, they are often replaced by natural gas–fired facilities.
• Increasing Electricity Demand. Growing power needs from residential, commercial, and industrial sectors have contributed to the expansion of natural gas–fired generation.
• Technological Advancements. Improvements in natural gas turbine efficiency have made newer plants more competitive and cost-effective.

These factors have collectively led to natural gas becoming the largest source of power generation in the U.S., accounting for more than 43% of electricity production in 2023. While some countries in Europe have tried to wean themselves off Russian natural gas, there is still strong demand for gas to power their grids. In some cases, this has been filled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, which could grow even more prominent in the future.

As the longest-running most-respected power industry publication in the world, POWER is the go-to resource for all serious power industry professionals. That’s why POWER should be your go-to resource to get in front of decision-makers in the gas power industry.

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