Flexible, dispatchable gas is a back-up for intermittent generating sources like wind and solar.
Learn moreThere are many different ways to use natural gas, but modern generating stations are built around gas turbines. Modern stations also produce 50% fewer carbon emissions compared to coal.
Combined cycles features two elements of energy production:
- First, the gas turbine compresses air and mixes it with fuel that is heated to a high temperature. The hot air-fuel mixture spins the gas turbine blades, which drive a generator that converts a portion of the spinning energy into electricity.
- Second, a heat recovery steam generator captures exhaust heat from the gas turbine that would otherwise escape through the exhaust stack and uses it to turn a steam turbine to create additional electricity.