Natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG)

Natural gas is the cleanest fossil energy source as its combustion does not create any sulfur or heavy metal emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas are also clearly lower than from oil or coal. Natural gas can be liquefied into LNG which allows for transportation to destinations beyond the natural gas network.

Natural gas is a natural energy gas that consists of almost entirely methane and is lighter than air. It is used as an energy source in households and industries. When natural gas is burned, it produces carbon dioxide. However, compared to other fossil fuels, it emits fewer pollutants, making it a cleaner alternative. Natural gas can also be used as a fuel for road transport and shipping, and it is considered part of the transition towards more sustainable energy solutions.

Natural gas is odorless, colorless and non-toxic. To ensure safety and to detect any gas leaks, natural gas is odorized during its processing.

Natural gas can be replaced by renewable biogas that is upgraded to a composition corresponding to natural gas.

LNG – clean energy to destinations outside the gas network

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a clear, colorless, non-toxic liquid that forms when natural gas is cooled to -162 °C. This process reduces the volume of the gas by a factor of 600. Once liquefied, the gas can be transported by sea, road or rail to new markets.

The use of LNG in maritime transport has increased in recent years. This growth is partly due to the increasingly stricter emission limits for ships. LNG usage does not result in any sulfur oxide emissions and it also meets the stricter emission targets set for nitrogen oxide, particulate and carbon dioxide emissions.

LNG offers a cleaner fuel alternative also for heavy-duty road transport and therefore extends the benefits of LNG across the entire logistics chain.

In addition to maritime and heavy-duty road transport, LNG is also suitable for industrial use just like natural gas. Compared with oil, LNG provides industrial operators with the opportunity to achieve considerable reductions in emissions generated by their activities.

Gas glossary – Get to know the terms

Natural gas

Natural gas is almost pure methane, odorless, tasteless, and non-toxic, and it does not contain sulfur, fine particulate matter, or heavy metals. Natural gas is the cleanest of the fossil fuels in terms of greenhouse gas and other flue gas emissions in energy production.

Biogas

Biogas is the same as biomethane, which has a composition equal to natural gas but is a 100% renewable energy source. Biogas is produced through the anaerobic processing of organic waste.

E-methane

Methane can be produced synthetically in the Power-to-Gas process. First, renewable energy and water are used to make synthetic hydrogen. The hydrogen can then be further processed into synthetic methane by adding biogenic carbon. E-methane produced this way is fully renewable.

LNG

Liquefied Natural Gas. Natural gas and biogas can be converted from gaseous to liquefied form by cooling the gas to -162°C. In the liquid state, the gas takes only 1/600 of the volume compared to the gaseous state. A benefit of liquefaction is that the gas can be stored, transported, and used conveniently and cost effectively outside the gas pipeline network.

LBG

Liquefied Biogas. Also referred to as Bio-LNG. LBG is made through the same cooling process as LNG. LNG and LBG are interchangeable with each other, as they both consist mainly of methane. This means that the two gases can be mixed, and they work in the same engines.

E-LNG

Liquefied e-methane. E-LNG is made through the same cooling process as LNG and LBG. E-LNG is also fully interchangeable with LNG and LBG and can be directly used by trucks and ships currently running on LNG at any ratio. There is no need for any additional investments in new equipment or modifications.