Shale Gas: Can it harm the development of new renewable technologies?

There are few global issues as contentious as mining. Mankind is still dependant on fossil fuels, and while there have been amazing leaps in the development of clean, renewable energies; we are still taking resources out of the ground in order to power our way of life.

Countries that traditionally don’t have large reserves of traditional natural gases are forced to rely on other nations for a steady supply of the resource, so it’s logical that the potential of untapped masses of gas within a country’s own borders would be highly appealing to their respective governments, which is why shale gas is sometimes seen as a route to independence in energy production.

Introducing Shale Gas

Shale gas is a gaseous deposit found inside shale rock formations, and its existence as a natural resource is hardly a new discovery- it was in fact first extracted in 1821. Despite the progression of mining and extraction technologies, the primary method of obtaining shale gas remains hydraulic fracturing, which is often abbreviated as “fracking.”

Fracking

If this term seems familiar, it’s possibly because this method of extraction is highly controversial, and even the most apathetic of citizens can become ardent environmentalists upon learning that there’s a fracking operation in their area - the method has been highly criticized due to its suspected environmental impact.

Fracking involves a small hollow being drilled into the rock; followed by a high-speed shot of water and various chemicals, which then creates small fractures throughout the rock, causing the gas (and in some instances, oil) to move into the hollow where it can be removed.

Fracking and the Environment

Hydraulic Fracturing isn’t an exhaustive method of extraction, and opponents to the method argue that groundwater contamination is a common after effect, as gases have the potential to seep out into a community’s water supply, which was well documented in the 2010 film, Gasland. It’s even been suggested that fracking can greatly increase the level of seismic activity in the surrounding area- meaning that vibration monitoring has become a necessary aspect of the process.

Shale Gas and Green Technologies

There’s a theory that the detection of large reserves of shale gas in conjunction with an escalation in mining operations (despite the frequent community opposition) would hamper, and possibly even stop the development of methods for producing renewable energy. If there’s that much natural gas available and a method with which to obtain it- why are green technologies even needed?

A Hybrid Future

A report from the investment wing of Citibank asserts that renewable and non-renewable gas energies will not compete with each other, and that the development of green energy has progressed to the point that it becoming the cheaper option has more or less become an inevitability. Like many things, it would appear the end result will be a compromise between the two opposing forces.

Fracking is not something that will disappear overnight, regardless of the often violent protests that are an increasingly common response to these types of mining operations. Such incredibly valuable underground resources cannot be ignored, although the extraction method seems to have significant room for improvement. Environmentalists may plan to continue their fight… at least until the time when green energy is the dominant force in the global energy marketplace.