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{{use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Short description|One or more generators which convert Natural gas into electricity}}
[[File:Berlin-mitte heizkraftwerk-mitte 20060605 629.jpg|thumb|A [[cogeneration]] plant in [[Berlin]]]]
[[File:Share-electricity-gas.svg|thumb|Share of electricity production from gas]]
{{Latest pie chart of world power by source}}
A gas-fired power plant (sometimes referred to as "gas-fired power station''"'' or "natural gas power plant") is a [[thermal power station]] that burns [[natural gas]] to [[electricity generation|generate electricity]]. Gas-fired power plants generate almost a quarter of [[Electric energy consumption|world electricity]] and are significant sources of [[greenhouse gas emissions]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-gas-conference-methane-idUKKBN1JP27E|title=Clean fuel? Methane leaks threaten natural gas' climate-friendly image|date=2018-06-29|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-06-30|language=en}}</ref> However, they can provide seasonal, [[dispatchable generation|dispatchable energy generation]] to compensate for [[variable renewable energy]] deficits, where [[hydropower]] or [[Electrical interconnector|interconnectors]] are not available.

==Basic concepts: heat into mechanical energy into electrical energy==
{{See also|Thermal power station}}
A gas-fired power plant is a type of [[fossil fuel power station]] in which chemical energy stored in natural gas, which is mainly [[methane]], is converted successively into: [[thermal energy]], [[mechanical energy]] and, finally, [[electrical energy]]. Although they cannot exceed the [[Carnot cycle]] limit for conversion of heat energy into useful work the excess heat may be used in [[cogeneration]] plants to heat buildings, produce hot water, or to heat materials on an industrial scale.

==Plant types==
[[File:Forssan varavoimala.JPG|thumb|[[Fingrid Oyj]]'s [[gas turbine]] power plant in [[Forssa]], [[Finland]]]]
===Simple cycle gas-turbine===
In a simple cycle gas-turbine, also known as open-cycle gas-turbine (OCGT), hot gas drives a [[gas turbine]] to generate electricity. This type of plant is relatively cheap to build and can start very quickly, but due to its lower efficiency is at most is only run for a few hours a day as a [[peaking power plant]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Simple_cycle_gas_plant|title=Simple cycle gas plant - Energy Education|website=energyeducation.ca|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref>

===Combined cycle gas-turbine (CCGT) ===
{{Main|Combined cycle power plant}}

[[File:Gateway Generating Station rectified.jpg|thumb|[[Gateway Generating Station]], a [[Combined cycle power plant|combined-cycle]] gas-fired power station in California.]]

CCGT power plants consist of simple cycle gas-turbines which use the [[Brayton cycle]], followed by a [[heat recovery steam generator]] and a [[steam turbine]] which use the [[Rankine cycle]]. The most common configuration is two gas-turbines supporting one steam turbine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=38312|title=Power blocks in natural gas-fired combined-cycle plants are getting bigger - Today in Energy - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)|website=www.eia.gov|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref> They are more efficient than simple cycle plants and can achieve efficiencies up to 55% and dispatch times of around half an hour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Combined_cycle_gas_plant|title=Combined cycle gas plant - Energy Education|website=energyeducation.ca|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref>

===Reciprocating engine===
{{See also|Reciprocating engine}}

Reciprocating [[internal combustion engines]] tend to be under 20MW, so much smaller than other types of natural gas-fired electricity generator, and are typically used for emergency power or to balance variable renewable energy such as wind and solar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=37972|title=Natural gas-fired reciprocating engines are being deployed more to balance renewables - Today in Energy - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)|website=www.eia.gov|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref>

==Greenhouse gas emissions==
In total gas-fired power stations emit about {{convert|450|g|lb|0}} of [[carbon dioxide|{{CO2}}]] per [[kilowatt-hour]] of electricity generated.<ref name="rue21">{{cite news |title=How sustainable is wind power? |date=2021-12-27 |first=Gero |last=Rueter |work=Deutsche Welle |url=https://m.dw.com/en/how-sustainable-is-wind-power/a-60268971 |access-date=2021-12-28 |quote=An onshore wind turbine that is newly built today produces around nine grams of CO2 for every kilowatt hour (kWh) it generates ... a new offshore plant in the sea emits seven grams of CO2 per kWh ... solar power plants emit 33 grams CO2 for every kWh generated ... natural gas produces 442 grams CO2 per kWh, power from hard coal 864 grams, and power from lignite, or brown coal, 1034 grams ... nuclear energy accounts for about 117 grams of CO2 per kWh, considering the emissions caused by uranium mining and the construction and operation of nuclear reactors. }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rosselot |first1=Kirsten S. |last2=Allen |first2=David T. |last3=Ku |first3=Anthony Y. |date=2021-07-05 |title=Comparing Greenhouse Gas Impacts from Domestic Coal and Imported Natural Gas Electricity Generation in China |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c01517 |journal=ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering |language=en |volume=9 |issue=26 |pages=8759–8769 |doi=10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c01517 |s2cid=237875562 |issn=2168-0485|doi-access=free }}</ref> This is about half that of [[coal-fired power station]]s but much more than [[nuclear power plant]]s and [[renewable energy]].<ref name="rue21" /> [[Life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions of energy sources|Life-cycle emissions]] of gas-fired power stations may be impacted by [[methane emissions]] such as from [[gas leak]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |title=A satellite finds massive methane leaks from gas pipelines |language=en |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/02/03/1077392791/a-satellite-finds-massive-methane-leaks-from-gas-pipelines |access-date=2022-05-09}}</ref>

===Carbon capture===
{{As of|2022}} very few power plants have [[carbon capture and storage]] or [[carbon capture and utilization]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chemnick |first=Jean |date=2022-05-09 |title=Why EPA might make new gas plants catch carbon |url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/why-epa-might-make-new-gas-plants-catch-carbon/ |access-date=2022-05-09 |website=E&E News |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Hydrogen===

Gas-fired power plants can be modified to run on [[hydrogen]]<ref>{{cite news |title=The plan to convert the North to run on hydrogen |url=https://utilityweek.co.uk/plan-convert-north-run-hydrogen/ |work=Utility Week |date=30 November 2018}}</ref> and according to [[General Electric]] a more economically viable option than CCS would be to use more and more [[hydrogen]] in the gas turbine fuel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ge-hydrogen-trumps-ccs-in-preserving-gas-turbines-in-a-carbon-free-grid/556585/|title=GE: Hydrogen trumps carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) in preserving gas turbines in a carbon-free grid|website=Utility Dive|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref> Hydrogen can at first be created from natural gas through [[steam reforming]], or by heating to precipitate carbon, as a step towards a [[hydrogen economy]], thus eventually reducing carbon emissions.<ref>{{cite web |title=H-vision: blue hydrogen for a green future |date=11 February 2019 |url=https://www.gasworld.com/blue-hydrogen-for-a-green-future/2016596.article |publisher=Gas World |access-date=9 May 2019}}</ref>

==Economics==
===New plants===
Sometimes a new [[battery storage power station]] together with [[solar power]] or [[wind power]] is cheaper in the long-term than building a new gas plant, as the gas plant risks becoming a [[stranded asset]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://solarmagazine.com/natural-gas-power-stranded-asset-risk-reaches-a-tipping-point/|title=Natural Gas Power Stranded Asset Risk Reaches a Tipping Point|last=Andrew Burger|date=2019-10-07|website=Solar Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-20}}</ref>

===Existing plants===
{{As of|2019}} a few gas-fired power plants are being retired because they are unable to stop and start quickly enough.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/06/in-california-a-young-natural-gas-plant-closes-down-as-renewables-get-cheaper/|title=A 10-year-old natural gas plant in California gets the coal plant treatment|last=Geuss|first=Megan|date=2019-06-26|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref> However, despite the falling cost of [[variable renewable energy]] most existing gas-fired power plants remain profitable, especially in countries without a [[carbon price]], due to their [[dispatchable generation]] and because [[shale gas]] and [[liquefied natural gas]] prices have fallen since they were built.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/market/mark-to-market/torrent-power-shares-make-a-powerful-leap-after-gujarat-arrangement-1561709553829.html|title=Torrent Power shares make a powerful leap after Gujarat arrangement|last=Ram|first=R. Sree|date=2019-06-28|language=en|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref> Even in places with a carbon price, such as the EU, existing gas-fired power stations remain economically viable, partly due to increasing restrictions on coal-fired power because of its pollution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldoil.com/news/2019/6/11/natural-gas-price-plunge-signals-greener-start-for-2019-in-us-and-eu|title=Natural gas price plunge signals greener start for 2019 in U.S. and EU|website=www.worldoil.com|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref>

==Politics==
Even when replacing coal power the decision to build a new plant may be controversial.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49960817|title=UK overrules block on Drax power station plans|last=Harrabin|first=Roger|date=2019-10-07|access-date=2019-10-20|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[List of natural gas power stations]]

==External links==
* [https://globalenergymonitor.org/projects/global-gas-plant-tracker/ Global gas plant tracker] by [[Global Energy Monitor]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{World topic|prefix=List of natural gas power stations in|title=List of natural gas power stations by country|noredlinks=yes|state=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Natural gas-fired power stations]]
[[Category:Natural gas phase-out]]
[[Category:Greenhouse gas emissions]]

Gas-fired power plant - Revision history

Sabari2398: reworked page based on references as per guidelines

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article