Liquefied natural gas
In order to make natural gas more easily transportable from one continent to another, it can be converted to liquid through cryogenic processing at –160°C.
Its volume is thereby reduced by 600% to become liquefied natural gas (LNG). For the past 50 years, ENGIE has been developing this method for supplying gas in conjunction with transport via gas pipeline.
LNG has all of the properties of natural gas. It provides clean, low-carbon energy and also has an advantage in terms of storage and transport. It is transported by sea on methane tankers, which are giant ships designed to keep the LNG at the proper temperature and in its liquid state.
Once it has been received at the methane tanker terminal, the LNG may be stored, moved to a tank lorry, or converted back into gas to be added to the natural gas distribution network.
Learn more: http://www.engie.com/en/businesses/gas/gas-energies/natural-gas-lng/
Illustration: Florent Bodart, via Curioos.com