ShareNew IIR Informatory Note on Liquefied Natural Gas
The latest IIR Informatory Note stresses that LNG is expected to play a major role in global energy strategies as it has many advantages and helps mitigate global warming when used instead of coal and oil.
The IIR has just published a new Informatory Note entitled “Liquefied Natural Gas: the largest cryogenic industry with a central role in the energy transition” prepared by Philip Hagyard, member of IIR Commission A2 " Liquefaction and separation of gases".
Natural gas has become one of the most important primary energy sources. In 2021, it represented more than 24.4% of the world's primary energy and its reserves are estimated at around 47 years of world consumption. For a given amount of combustion energy supplied, it produces about 40% fewer CO2 and pollutant emissions than coal and 20% fewer than oil. The liquefaction of natural gas makes it possible to considerably reduce the volume to be transported: one litre of LNG is roughly equivalent to 600 litres of natural gas at atmospheric pressure. The rapid expansion of international LNG trade in the new millennium, which grew from 137 billion m3 in 2000 to 469 billion m3 in 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 6.3%, means that there are now 44 importing countries. LNG technology has been in use since the 1960s and is constantly evolving to meet this growing demand.
This IIR Informatory Note provides a collection of data on natural gas properties and LNG technologies and international trade. It also presents the main trends likely to shape the future of LNG trade and a series of recommendations for policy makers for LNG to strengthen its central role in energy policies as it contributes to mitigating global warming when used in place of coal and oil.
This Informatory Note can be downloaded from FRIDOC (free for IIR members).
A Summary for policymakers outlining the main conclusions and recommendations of this Informatory Note is also available in open access.