Liquefied Natural Gas: All you need to know about LNG and its impacts on climate

A view of the “Neptune”, a floating facility for converting liquified natural gas back into gaseous form on January 14, 2023, in Germany. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

New Delhi: By significantly increasing its imports of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the majority of which is fracking-produced in the US, the EU is weaning itself off piped Russian gas. Climate campaigners are describing the arrival of liquefied natural gas ships transporting fracked US gas in northern Germany as a significant defeat in the quest to slow global warming. In order to make up for the lost Russian gas supply, four additional LNG facilities are expected to open in Germany alone. Though hailed as a temporary solution, many worry that the gas will be around for a while given that the EU is now the world’s largest LNG importer. But what is LNG exactly?

What is Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)?

Natural gas is present in vast amounts on earth, yet much of it is located in places where it is not required. Natural gas must be transformed into Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), by a procedure known as liquefaction, in order to transport this cleaner-burning fuel across seas.

Natural gas is converted into LNG, a liquid that is 1/600th of its original volume, by cooling it to -162 degree Celsius or  -260 degrees Fahrenheit. This significant decrease enables it to be transported efficiently and securely onboard LNG carriers.

The compressed fossil fuel, which is nearly entirely made up of the powerful greenhouse gas methane, can be sent anywhere in the world. The cargo is re-gasified at a floating terminal and dispersed through pipes once it has reached its destination.

However, despite LNG’s potential for export, its market has been constrained by the high cost of liquefaction and production. Due in part to rising operational and infrastructure expenses, the anticipated cost of developing floating LNG terminals in Germany to import gas to replace Russian gas has doubled.

Energy is also needed for cooling, liquefying, and transport operations as well as the post-transport regasification procedures. Andy Gheorghiu, an activist and energy and climate policy expert based in Germany, told ‘Indian Express’ that “between 10 and 25 per cent of the energy of the gas is wasted during the liquefaction process.”

Natural gas reserves in India

About 69 trillion cubic feet of known and likely recoverable gas deposits have been found in India since 1950. However, as of right now, just 42 trillion cubic feet have been tapped and are being produced. The remaining reserves total 27 trillion cubic feet, with 18 trillion cubic feet still to be generated. 64 trillion cubic feet of potentially recoverable resources are still undiscovered, according to an examination of 12 basins throughout India. Indian reserves of recoverable gas therefore total at least 91 trillion cubic feet.

India has projected recoverable shale gas reserves of 63 trillion cubic feet in addition to conventional gas reserves. Even though these deposits are viewed as a secondary source of energy, Indian government agencies are promoting exploration, and top businesses like ONGC and OIL have put experimental projects into place to evaluate the shale possibilities.

Its impact on climate

If all planned projects are completed, the expanding Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) sector will contribute at least as much to the onset of a global disaster as new investments in coal, according to US-based energy researchers and activists as per a ‘Guardian’ report.

Meanwhile, LNG processing is so energy- and carbon-intensive that it may result in approximately ten times as much carbon emissions as piped gas, energy researchers at Rystad Energy, located in Norway, told Deutsche Welle.

As per ‘Indian Express’, “The numerous stages required to take LNG from the wellhead to the market lead to a “very high imported emissions intensity” in comparison to piped gas, whose emissions are limited to upstream and transport and processing, according to Kaushal Ramesh, an LNG energy expert at Rystad.”