Natural gas
A fossil fuel composed mainly of methane, used for power generation, industrial and residential heat, and as a chemical feedstock for hydrogen and ammonia.
Natural gas is typically 85–97% methane, with ethane, propane, CO2 and nitrogen. Pipeline quality gas has a higher heating value of about 37–40 MJ/m3 (roughly 10.5–11 kWh/m3) and a lower heating value around 10% less. Combustion emits about 56 kg CO2 per GJ (LHV), or 0.20 kg CO2 per kWh of fuel, around 45% less than coal per unit of energy.
Gas generated about 6,900 TWh in 2025, roughly 22% of world electricity (Ember). Major producers are the United States (about a quarter of global output), Russia, Iran, Qatar, China, Canada and Norway. Supply comes from conventional reservoirs, associated gas from oil wells and, since about 2008, shale gas through horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
Prices are regional: US Henry Hub mostly USD 2–4/MMBtu in 2023–2025, while European TTF spiked above EUR 300/MWh in August 2022 before returning to EUR 30–50/MWh. Gas plants provide flexible, dispatchable capacity, but the climate benefit over coal depends on methane leakage. Use the fuel energy calculator to convert volumes to energy.
Related terms
All terms →- LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)
Natural gas cooled to about minus 162 degrees C, shrinking its volume around 600-fold so it can be shipped by tanker between markets without pipelines.
- Combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT)
A power plant that runs a gas turbine and uses its hot exhaust to raise steam for a second, steam turbine, reaching electrical efficiencies of 55–64%.
- Methane leakage
Unintended release of methane from oil, gas and coal supply chains through leaks, venting and incomplete flaring, often expressed as a percentage of gas produced.
- MMBtu
One million British thermal units (1.05506 GJ, 293.07 kWh); the standard pricing unit for natural gas and LNG in the United States and Asia.
- Calorific value (HHV / LHV)
The heat released by complete combustion of a unit quantity of fuel; the higher (gross) value includes condensation heat of water vapour, the lower (net) value excludes it.
- Grey hydrogen
Hydrogen made from natural gas by steam methane reforming without carbon capture; the dominant and cheapest production route today.