Energy
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Definition
Liquefied natural gas is natural gas — predominantly methane — that has been purified and cryogenically cooled to approximately −162°C, reducing its volume by about 600 times so it can be shipped in insulated tankers and stored economically. Regasification terminals return it to gaseous form for distribution and end use.
References
liquefaction at −162°C, ~600x volume reduction, process and uses
7–15% liquefaction energy use; methane leakage caveat
Overview
What it means
Liquefaction is an industrial process typically consuming 7–15% of the gas's energy content. LNG links gas fields to distant markets — notably Asia and Europe — and is traded as a global commodity, giving importers supply flexibility beyond fixed pipeline routes.
How it is used
Power generation, industrial fuel, heating and, increasingly, ship bunkering and heavy transport. In energy transitions it is promoted as a lower-CO2 substitute for coal and oil, and as backup for variable renewables.
Why it matters
LNG expands gas access and can displace more carbon-intensive fuels, but methane leakage across the supply chain can erode or reverse its climate advantage, and new LNG infrastructure risks locking in fossil fuel dependence for decades. **Note:** In-batch merges: 1636 "Liquefied natural gas" (duplicate) and 1650 "LNG" (abbreviation) → this entry.