In terms of supply, it is currently estimated that known oil deposits will be sufficient for 30–50 years while known deposits of natural gas will last for more than 70–100 years. When considering the total deposits of gas, i.e. fields that have not yet been fully mapped, it is estimated that natural gas will last for five times longer than oil.
Biogas and natural gas can interact
It is clear that the natural gas technology and particularly the LNG form of distribution offer development possibilities for biogas and perhaps also hydrogen gas in the long term. A strong development of biogas requires a well-designed distribution system – here natural gas and biogas can interact to encourage investments in infrastructure. LNG is an ideal supplement to the overall energy supply and is the most efficient way to create availability and flexibility – no reliance on gas networks or individual suppliers.
LNG is available in many locations around the world
LNG is produced is a wide variety of locations such as Australia, Malaysia, Nigeria and Norway and is used in large parts of the world. Asia and Europe receive large amounts of LNG in ports where it can be gasified and injected into the natural gas network. For many industries in Europe, natural gas represents a vital energy source. The efficient cogeneration production with natural gas is also important for today’s electricity supply.
LNG has several positive properties
For industry, natural gas represents an increase in efficiency of up to 10 percent due to its high level of efficiency. In certain thermal processes natural gas is the only alternative to oil, and it also has properties that make it preferably to electricity. In CHP plants the gaseous fuel allows technology with a very high power exchange to be used. Natural gas results in reduced energy consumption, cleaner products that are not polluted with soot or dirt during production, and vastly improved working environments. Furthermore, the number of expensive and environmentally unfriendly transports is reduced.
Flexible distribution provides security of supply
The fact that the majority of Europe has an interlinking gas network offers consumers competition and security of supply. Within the EU, the work involved in securing the gas supply is one of the areas with highest priority. When the supply and use of liquefied natural gas increases, there is also greater flexibility when it comes to choosing a supplier. Because liquefied natural gas can be distributed independently of gas networks, this means that consumers are not trapped with one infrastructure but rather have full flexibility in the future.
LNG promotes the use of all gases
The energy gases, both in the form of natural gas and biogas, are important to ensure the supply of fuel and even out production variations. This drives and facilitates biogas production – an expanded infrastructure for natural gas and LNG is a prerequisite for producing biogas on a large scale. The supply of natural gas in turn facilitates the construction of gas infrastructure in Sweden.
Natural gas succeeds in Sweden
AGA’s new terminal for LNG in Nynäshamn is a breakthrough in the use of natural gas in eastern and central Sweden as well as for shipping in the Baltic Sea. LNG can be distributed in a cost effective manner with tanker trucks to customers within a radius of 350–500 km from Nynäshamn. This allows steel and other industries to take advantage of the increase in efficiency resulting from the high level of efficiency natural gas provides. So far, diesel ships have the option of converting to gas technology to fulfill the requirements due to enter into force in 2015 as part of stricter environmental regulations. And this invites haulers and carriers to invest in duel fuel engines and increase their competitiveness by providing environmentally certified transport.