There has been considerable opposition recently to the idea of replacing the coal-fired power stations that we have relied on for decades with more modern versions that still burn coal. It’s now suggested that using natural gas to replace coal is an improvement as it will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced.

While it’s true that gas produces only two-thirds the amount of CO2 per unit of electricity as coal, it’s still an enormous amount and there are very good reasons why it is not a suitable replacement for coal if we really mean to reduce CO2 and stabilise climate change. Though it may seem that in theory gas produces less carbon dioxide than coal, the reality is not so helpful. Most of the new gas that will be used is difficult to extract, and much of it is promised from the new shale gas that can only be exploited by using the controversial fracking method. As this involves much greater use of energy to break up the shale that contains the gas, and to supply the fine sand involved, the result is the production of more CO2, and so the advantage is eroded.

Similarly, the greater use of gas, from any source, like Russia or Algeria, or from shale, means that more methane will escape into the atmosphere, and at more than 20 times the potency of CO2, this is not helpful. Nor is the fact that by stopping the burning of coal, fewer sulphur and carbon particulates will be released as in the past they have blocked solar warming and helped cool the planet. It’s suggested that the increase in Chinese coal-burning over the last ten years has significantly slowed down the global temperature increase.

So gas is certainly not an acceptable ‘bridge’ fuel until we depend on renewables and nuclear energy as it will delay their development, and there’s now real concern about what is happening in Lancashire. A significant deposit of shale gas has been discovered between Blackpool and the Bowland area, 200 trillion cubic feet, enough for all the UK’s needs for the next 60 years. There would be at least 400 wells at more than 40 sites, and Blackpool could soon rival Aberdeen as the gas capital of the UK.

The CO2 from this gas, and the associated water and sand problems, put this source of energy on a par with coal and it will have the added disadvantage of delaying real investment in large-scale renewable schemes, a local electricity network and fourth generation nuclear power.

We must accept that the only useful gas is that made from our food waste, and not that imported from millions of years ago.