Advanced natural gas utilization systems

Concern over global environmental problems and the development of severe stringencies in the energy markets has been prompting ever more importunate calls for the more efficient use of energy. in order to respond to such calls while at the same time increasing both the sophistication and the extent to the utilization of the vitally important resource of natural gas, the gas utilities themselves have been actively developing and promoting the more widespread use of energy utilization systems by making use of sources of energy which have conventionally remianed untapped. Such systems include cogeneration systems which offer the advantage of high efficiency along with the ability to make effective use of waste heat, as well as fuel cells and heat pumps. The following discussion is intended as an introduction to the current state of development and utilization of such systems in Japan.