Is Solar Power Better Than Natural Gas?
With energy demands rising across the globe, there is an increasing focus on renewable energy sources like solar power as alternatives to fossil fuels like natural gas. Both solar and natural gas have advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, reliability, environmental impact, and more. This article provides an in-depth comparison of solar power and natural gas to help determine which energy source may be better suited for different applications and locations. With climate change accelerating and energy security a growing concern worldwide, understanding the pros and cons of various energy options is key for consumers, businesses, and policymakers when making decisions about energy production and usage.
Overview of Solar Power
Solar power is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity through the use of photovoltaic cells, which are often arranged into solar panels. Sunlight hits the solar panels and gets absorbed by the photovoltaic cells, causing electrons to become energized and flow to create direct current (DC) electricity. This DC electricity is then converted into usable alternating current (AC) electricity through the use of inverters. The electricity generated can be used to power homes, businesses, and the grid (Source).
Some key pros of solar power include that it is renewable, reduces electric bills, provides energy independence, and has minimal environmental impact. Solar power systems typically pay for themselves within 10-20 years through electricity savings. With government incentives, residential solar panels in 2023 cost 7-15 cents per kWh over a system’s lifetime – on par with coal and natural gas. The cons include high upfront costs of installation, intermittency issues on cloudy days, and lower efficiency than fossil fuels (Source).
Solar power currently accounts for about 3% of U.S. electricity generation. However, solar capacity is expanding rapidly and is projected to provide 20% of U.S. electricity by 2050 as costs continue to fall (Source).
Overview of Natural Gas
Natural gas is a fossil fuel that formed deep beneath the earth’s surface millions of years ago from the remains of plants and animals. It is colorless, shapeless, and odorless in its pure form and is made up primarily of methane. Natural gas can be burned to generate electricity, provide heating and cooling, and power vehicles and appliances.
Natural gas works by being piped from underground reservoirs to homes and businesses. Inside furnaces and boilers, it is ignited to produce heat. In power plants, it is burned to drive turbines which generate electricity. Natural gas offers some key advantages:
- It’s more energy efficient than other fossil fuels, producing more energy per unit.
- It emits 50-60% less carbon dioxide when combusted.
- It’s abundant domestically, helping reduce reliance on foreign energy sources.
- It’s relatively affordable, costing less than other fuel sources.
However, natural gas does have some downsides:
- It still produces carbon emissions contributing to climate change.
- Extraction techniques like fracking can pollute groundwater and cause earthquakes.
- It’s a nonrenewable resource that will eventually be depleted.
- Transporting it requires extensive pipelines that are vulnerable to leaks and explosions.
Natural gas currently provides about 22% of the energy used in the United States, second only to petroleum among fossil fuels. The drilling boom of the last decade has dramatically increased domestic natural gas production, making the U.S. the top producer globally.
Cost Comparison
When looking at the costs of solar power versus natural gas, both the upfront installation costs and the ongoing energy generation costs need to be considered. There are also government incentives that can impact the economics.
The initial installation cost for a residential solar system in the U.S. averages around $3 per watt according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). So a typical 6 kW system would cost roughly $18,000 before incentives [1]. The investment pays off over time from the energy savings, with a typical payback period of 5-7 years.
For natural gas, there is no major equipment cost since utilities run distribution lines to homes and businesses. However, there are often connection fees that can add up to over $1,000.
When looking at ongoing costs, residential solar power averages around $0.12 per kWh, while the U.S. average retail price of natural gas is $0.11 per kWh [2]. However, government tax credits like the federal investment tax credit (ITC) can slash the effective cost of solar by 26% [1].
So while natural gas has a lower upfront cost, solar power can achieve cost parity or cost savings over time with the help of government incentives. The economics continue to improve as solar costs fall while natural gas prices can be volatile.
Environmental Impact
When it comes to environmental impact, solar power has a clear advantage over natural gas. Solar energy produces no emissions during operation and has minimal emissions from manufacturing panels, while natural gas emits carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases when burned (1). According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, life cycle carbon dioxide emissions for utility-scale solar power are about 96 grams per kilowatt-hour, while emissions from natural gas combined cycle power plants range from 450 to 800 grams per kilowatt-hour (2).
Natural gas extraction and transportation also leads to leakage of methane, a potent greenhouse gas over 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in warming the atmosphere over a 20 year period (3). One 2018 study estimated methane leakage across the U.S. natural gas supply chain was 2.3%, 60% higher than EPA estimates (4). Solar has no comparable leakage issues. Overall, solar power’s minimal lifetime emissions give it a huge environmental advantage over natural gas.
In addition to lower emissions, solar power produces no air or water pollution from operations, while natural gas plants emit pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that harm air and water quality (5). As renewable energy from solar continues displacing fossil fuels like natural gas, public health and environmental quality stand to benefit.
Sources:
(1) https://www.solarfeeds.com/mag/solar-vs-natural-gas/
(2) https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/environmental-impacts-solar-power
(3) https://www.epa.gov/natural-gas-star-program/overview-oil-and-natural-gas-industry
(4) https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aar7204
(5) https://chariotenergy.com/chariot-university/natural-gas-vs-solar-energy/
Reliability
When it comes to reliability, both solar power and natural gas have their advantages and disadvantages. Natural gas plants can provide consistent base load power and are not dependent on weather conditions like solar power. However, natural gas infrastructure is prone to supply disruptions from things like storms, while solar power can provide electricity even during grid outages if paired with batteries or other storage.[1]
One common concern with solar power is that its intermittent nature makes it unreliable for meeting energy demands, especially peak demand times in the evening when the sun isn’t shining. However, studies have shown that large amounts of solar power can be integrated into the grid reliably through a diversified renewable portfolio, demand response technology, energy storage, and forecasting.[2]
Overall, natural gas may have an edge for base load capacity and reliability due to its consistent availability. But solar power can provide reliable supplemental energy, and with the right grid integration its reliability is comparable to fossil fuels.
Future Outlook
The future outlook for solar power versus natural gas shows solar continuing its strong growth. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration in their Short-Term Energy Outlook, solar power generation capacity is projected to grow from 95 gigawatts in 2022 to 131 gigawatts in 2024 and 174 gigawatts in 2025. In comparison, natural gas capacity is expected to decline slightly from 515 gigawatts in 2022 to 507 gigawatts in 2024. The EIA forecasts continued cost declines for solar energy while projecting relatively flat natural gas prices. The Utility Dive reports that solar is expected to be the top source of new electricity generation through 2025. Key factors driving solar’s continued growth include improving panel efficiency, lower soft costs like permitting and installation, supportive policies, and its environmental benefits. While natural gas will remain an important electricity source, projections point to solar power playing an increasingly prominent role in the nation’s generation mix thanks to its rapidly improving technology and economics.
Policy and Regulation
Government policies can have a significant impact on the growth and adoption of solar power versus natural gas. There are policies at both the federal and state level that favor or restrict these energy sources.
At the federal level, tax credits like the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) have helped incentivize solar adoption by allowing homeowners to deduct 26% of solar installation costs from their federal taxes through 2032 1. There are no comparable federal tax credits for natural gas. However, the natural gas industry does receive federal subsidies for production and infrastructure. One estimate put federal natural gas subsidies at $2.8 billion in 2015 2.
At the state level, over 25 states have renewable portfolio standards that require utilities to procure a certain percentage of electricity from renewable sources like solar. These standards put natural gas at a disadvantage. However, some states restrict policies like net metering that compensate solar panel owners for surplus electricity sent back to the grid, which can hamper solar adoption.
Ultimately, government policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy tend to favor solar power. But in states reliant on natural gas production for jobs and tax revenue, policies are often more favorable to the continued use of this fossil fuel.
Public Opinion
Surveys show strong public support for solar power over other energy sources like natural gas. According to Pew Research from 2016, 89% of Americans favored expanding solar panel farms, compared to just 9% who opposed. A more recent 2023 Pew survey found that while only 31% supported completely phasing out fossil fuels like natural gas, 58% of Americans favored prioritizing renewable energy development like solar power.
A global survey by Reuters in 2023 also found widespread support for solar, with 68% of respondents favoring solar power in their countries. In the United States specifically, the poll found 58% favored solar energy, higher than any other energy source including natural gas.
Overall, polls clearly indicate most Americans support transitioning to and expanding solar power compared to reliance on fossil fuels like natural gas. However, there is less consensus on completely abandoning established energy sources like natural gas in the near future.
Conclusion
After comparing solar power and natural gas across several factors like cost, environmental impact, reliability, and more, it appears that solar power has some key advantages that may make it a better energy source moving forward. While natural gas is currently cheaper and more reliable, solar power costs are dropping quickly as the technology improves. And solar has tremendous environmental benefits over fossil fuels like natural gas, which contribute significantly to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions.
With solar panel efficiency and energy storage solutions constantly advancing, solar power should become more cost-competitive and reliable in the years ahead. If current trends continue, solar could well surpass natural gas and become a major pillar of energy production globally. While natural gas will remain important, especially for grid flexibility, the future looks bright for solar to keep growing as a sustainable, renewable energy source with minimal environmental footprint. For these reasons, solar power seems poised to emerge as an better energy source compared to natural gas in the long run.
