Methane

Abstract

Among the various hydrocarbons used in energy, methane is the lightest. Nevertheless, its utilization as an energy source is not as developed as it is for heavier alkanes like, e.g., butane. Methane is valorized through two utilizations: raw material for synthesizing valuable chemicals (like, e.g., methanol) and, energy carrier (i.e., electricity production). However methane, especially anthropogenic methane, has recently been the object of criticisms. It has been largely noticed that its greenhouse effects are neglected. Indeed methane is an important greenhouse gas and thus is considered as being as important as carbon dioxide in global warming. In other words, methane contributes to the intensification of global warming while it is a renewable energy pool. This duality asks a question: should methane be viewed as a menacing greenhouse gas or as a promising, renewable energy carrier? This question is the core of the present chapter. To reach sustainability, approaches to minimize the generation of greenhouse gases will require new science and technology that deals with the issue in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner. This argument is completely right for methane. Methane can be utilized judiciously and efficiently through approaches requiring new science and technology - the hydrogen storage/generation approach or the fuel cell approach. These technologies permit us to valorize methane and thus to decrease its impact on global warming. This is the subject of the present chapter. This chapter reviews methane, especially its sources (natural and anthropogenic) and its utilization (e.g., hydrogen generation and fuel cells). The discussion especially stresses the advantages of anthropogenic methane from which we can benefit. It especially shows that methane is renewable, has a high potential as an energy carrier and could be more viewed as that than as a greenhouse gas. It also shows that if anthropogenic methane is valorized in energy, its greenhouse effects will be decreased and ideally avoided via cycles, which may be called sustainable methane cycles. © 2010 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.