Liquefied Natural Gas

Liquefied natural gas, abbreviated as LNG, is natural gas (primarily methane) that has been cooled to a very low temperature, around -162°C (-260°F), to transform it into a liquid form.  This process reduces its volume by about 600 times, making it much more efficient for storage and transportation over long distances where pipelines are impractical, such as overseas shipping.

LNG is commonly used as a fuel for heating, cooking, electricity generation, and increasingly for transportation, especially in sectors seeking cleaner alternatives to diesel and coal.  Since LNG is mostly methane, it produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to coal and oil.  However, the cooling, transportation, and regasification processes require energy, adding emissions to its lifecycle, though typically less than that of coal or oil.

Key Points about Liquefied Natural Gas

Production  -  Natural gas is cooled to -162°C to become LNG.
Transportation  -  LNG is transported in specially designed cryogenic tankers, allowing it to be shipped worldwide.
Storage  -  LNG terminals store it as a liquid before it’s converted back to gas for distribution via pipelines or local infrastructure.
Environmental Impact  -  While cleaner than coal and oil, LNG production and transport still generate emissions.

LNG is seen as a bridge fuel as the world transitions to more sustainable energy sources.