Share

IIR document

Reframing bio-LNG: understanding critical barriers and regional pathways to scale.

Number: 40

Author(s) : IGBALAJOBI T., LIM J.

Summary

Bio-LNG is often touted as a principal route to decarbonizing LNG supply chains. Technologically mature and chemically identical to LNG, it promises strong emissions reductions without the retrofitting costs or logistical complexity of alternative fuels like ammonia or hydrogen. Yet, despite its advantages, bio-LNG remains a marginal player in today’s energy landscape. Production is limited, markets have failed to materialise at scale and its promise, to date, remains largely unfulfilled.
This paper seeks to critically re-examine the role of bio-LNG in global decarbonisation efforts and offer a more grounded perspective on its potential. It explores the core barriers to adoption – including feedstock constraints and cost disparities – and considers how these limitations shape the fuel’s suitability for specific use cases. Bio-LNG appears best suited to sectors such as heavyduty transport or maritime bunkering, where practical compatibility is high and alternatives like hydrogen derivatives and electrification face additional technical and operational constraints. Conversely, positioning bio-LNG as a universal substitute for fossil LNG overlooks the key structural and economic limitations that the fuel faces. By focusing on realistic adoption scenarios, this paper enables a more targeted assessment of the barriers preventing broader uptake and helps clarify where market interventions can be most effectively applied.
To better understand these barriers, the paper analyses the current state of bio-LNG development and deployment, drawing on activity in Europe and emerging interest in Asia. In Europe, road transport has seen the strongest early uptake, supported by targeted subsidies, road toll exemptions, and a growing network of refuelling infrastructure. In maritime use, bio-LNG is already being bunkered at ports such as Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, and Gothenburg.
In Asia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore have all expressed intent to diversify LNG portfolios through synthetic or renewable options. However, the enabling frameworks that could unlock scale — such as renewable gas standards, or port-based incentives — remain underdeveloped. This paper will draw on lessons learned from bio-LNG use in Europe and suggest how similar policy instruments can be applied across Asia.
Infrastructure compatibility alone is insufficient to drive fuel transition. Without nuanced discussion, aligned incentives and targeted policy frameworks, bio-LNG will remain an underutilised decarbonisation option and struggle to meet its potential.
Ultimately, the paper positions bio-LNG not as a fuel competing to replace fossil LNG in bulk energy
terms — but as a targeted, high-impact solution that can reduce emissions in specific sectors quickly, using infrastructure that already exists. The paper highlights key barriers to wider adoption of bio-LNG and draws on successful examples to suggest how adoption challenges can be overcome.

Available documents

Format PDF

Pages: 9 p.

Available

Free

Download

PDF of the presentation slides

Pages: 11 p.

Available

Free

Download

Details

  • Original title: Reframing bio-LNG: understanding critical barriers and regional pathways to scale.
  • Record ID : 30034653
  • Languages: English
  • Subject: Technology
  • Source: 21st International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG2026)
  • Publication date: 2026/02/05

Links


See other articles from the proceedings (90)
See the conference proceedings

Indexing