Skip navigation to main content. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)NREL HomeInnovation for Our Energy Future
About NRELScience and TechnologyTechnology TransferApplying TechnologiesLearning About Renewables
Learning About Renewable Energy
Learning About Renewable Energy Home Renewable Energy Basics Using Renewable Energy Energy Delivery and Storage Basics Distributed Energy Cooling, Heating, and Power Energy Management Grid Interconnection Power Generation Energy Storage Hydrogen Advanced Vehicles and Fuels Basics Student Resources

Gas-Fueled Technologies for Power Generation

Since the 1980s, natural gas — which consists mostly of methane — has become increasingly popular as a fuel for power generation. A combination of new technologies and regulatory changes has been responsible for this shift.

Natural gas has several advantages over some renewable energy technologies: the fuel source is continuously available, the up-front cost of generating equipment is typically lower, and the generators themselves are more compact than most renewable power systems.

While the primary fuel for gas-fueled distributed generation systems today is natural gas, biogas and hydrogen may play an important role in the future.

Pursue the following links to learn more about the leading gas-fueled technologies for distributed power generation (provided by DOE's Distributed Energy Program):

Alternatively, you can get in-depth information on the full range of gas technologies in the following document, published by NREL in October 2003: Gas-Fired Distributed Energy Resource Technology Characterizations (PDF 2.4 MB). Download Adobe Reader.