LNG, liquefied natural gas
Natural gas is a major source of energy. It is mainly composed by methane, the simplest hydrocarbon molecule, which gives the natural gas significant advantages in safety and emissions against other fossil fuels.
Liquefied natural gas or LNG, is natural gas that has been converted to a liquid form for the ease of storage or transport, by cooling natural gas to approximately −162 °C. LNG is odourless, colourless, non-toxic and non-corrosive.
Natural gas is converted into LNG in liquefaction plants from where it is transported to LNG terminals, then regasified and introduced into pipelines for its delivery to the final consumer (industrial, domestic or power plants mainly). This is the traditional chain for LNG.
LNG applications as a final product are becoming more and more popular. Among these other uses, LNG is a down-to-Earth alternative fuel to conventional fuels in transportation sector, giving it the opportunity to reduce its emissions, to diversify its energy mix and to reduce its costs.
LNG contributes to a low-carbon economy as it reduces around 20-30% CO2. Furthermore, it eliminates emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM) and reduces drastically nitrogen oxides (NOx), which falicitates complying with increasingly tight environmental regulations in the maritime sector, LNG is a down to earth alternative, already available and used.