World Energy Outlook Says Natural Gas Provides Flexibility and Fuels Growth

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The World Energy Outlook 2019 (WEO-2019) released today by the International Energy Agency (IEA) says, “gas grids provide a crucial mechanism to bring energy to consumers, typically delivering more energy than electricity networks and providing a valuable source of flexibility.” The report finds natural gas provided 45 percent of the growth in the world’s energy in 2018.

“The World Energy Outlook 2019 confirms that natural gas is key to meeting the world’s energy needs and serves as a solution to achieve our economic and environmental goals here in the United States and around the world,” said AGA President and CEO, Karen Harbert.

The WEO-2019 focuses significantly on natural gas and the role the United States will play in the production, consumption and trade of the commodity. IEA also found that the United States will continue to lead the world in natural gas production and could contribute over 40 percent of total global gas production growth through 2025. WEO-2019 projects a future with continued technological, market and financial innovations that make natural gas more accessible, reduce costs and improve efficiency.

AGA, in conjunction with the Potential Gas Committee, recently announced the U.S. has more recoverable natural gas than ever before in our nation’s history at 3,374 tcf, a 20 percent increase from just two years ago. America’s natural gas utilities are committed to leveraging and utilizing America's abundant, domestic, affordable and clean natural gas to help meet the nation's energy and environmental needs.

The American Gas Association, founded in 1918, represents more than 200 local energy companies that deliver clean natural gas throughout the United States. There are more than 73 million residential, commercial and industrial natural gas customers in the U.S., of which 95 percent — more than 69 million customers — receive their gas from AGA members. Today, natural gas meets more than one-fourth of the United States' energy needs.

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