Amid the climate change crisis and rising global energy demand driven by economic and population growth, the world is moving toward cleaner energy sources.
While the role of renewable energy continues to expand, challenges related to intermittency and infrastructure mean it is not yet fully capable of reliably meeting today’s energy needs.
In this context, LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) is often regarded as a potential solution to these challenges. However, considering that LNG is derived from fossil fuels, can it really be classified as a low-emission alternative fuel? Find out the facts here.
Is LNG Low-Emission?
Yes, LNG can be categorized as a lower-emission alternative fuel when compared to coal and diesel. How is this possible? Here is a detailed explanation.
Why Is LNG Considered an Alternative Fuel?
LNG is considered an alternative fuel because it serves as a substitute for coal and petroleum, particularly in efforts to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency.
During the transition toward renewable energy, LNG is often positioned as a transition fuel that is cleaner yet still reliable for meeting large-scale energy demand.
LNG, or liquefied natural gas, is natural gas that has been cooled to approximately −162°C, causing it to become liquid and reducing its volume by about 600 times. This condition allows LNG to be transported efficiently by tanker ships to regions not connected to gas pipeline networks.
From a utilization perspective, LNG offers cleaner combustion with lower carbon emissions and air pollutants compared to coal and diesel.
Read More: 5 Key Roles of Small-Scale LNG
LNG Emissions Compared to Coal and Diesel
Compared to coal and heavy fuel oil, LNG offers clear environmental advantages, especially at the combustion stage.
In power generation, LNG can produce CO₂ emissions that are approximately 40–50% lower than coal and around 15–30% lower than diesel.
In the maritime sector, LNG significantly reduces particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions, and almost eliminates sulfur oxide emissions due to its extremely low sulfur content. This makes LNG one of the key options for meeting IMO 2020 regulations.
Cleaner Combustion Quality of LNG
LNG is considered a cleaner fuel due to its more efficient combustion quality and minimal impurities.
Before liquefaction, natural gas undergoes strict purification processes to remove water, mercury, and sulfur compounds. As a result, its combustion produces almost no soot or fine particulates that degrade air quality, unlike coal and diesel.
These characteristics help improve air quality around industrial facilities and make compliance with increasingly stringent emission regulations easier.
Read More: 5 Countries That Produce The Biggest Natural Gas
What Other Low-Emission Alternative Fuels Exist Besides LNG?
In addition to LNG, several other alternative energy sources are low-emission or even close to zero-emission, including:
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is classified into several types based on its production method, such as green hydrogen. This type is considered renewable energy and has very low emissions.
Despite its strong potential as a clean energy source, hydrogen development still faces major challenges, including high production costs and limited supporting infrastructure.
These factors make hydrogen a promising long-term energy solution, but one that is not yet fully mature for widespread adoption.
Biofuels (Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Biogas)
Biofuels, including biodiesel, bioethanol, and biogas, are renewable fuels produced from various organic sources such as energy crops, agricultural waste, and organic waste.
Compared to fossil fuels, biofuels have the potential to generate lower emissions. However, their development still faces challenges related to competition with food crops and the risk of deforestation, making sustainability a key issue in their global implementation.
Read More: LNG ISO Tanks as a Smart Solution for Flexible Distribution
Ammonia
Ammonia is a carbon-free fuel that does not produce CO₂ emissions during combustion. However, its use presents technical challenges, particularly the potential for NOₓ emissions, which must be controlled through catalytic technologies and specialized combustion strategies.
In addition, ammonia’s toxic nature requires high safety and handling standards, meaning its development still depends on advanced technological readiness and robust regulatory frameworks.
LPG and CNG
LPG and CNG are gaseous fuels used in different segments. LPG is widely utilized for household needs and small-scale industries, while CNG is commonly used in urban transportation.
Both generally produce lower local pollutant emissions and lower carbon emissions compared to gasoline.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower generate electricity without combustion and produce almost no emissions during the operational phase.
Nevertheless, their overall environmental impact must still be assessed comprehensively, as they continue to face technical challenges and supply intermittency.
Read More: Renewable vs Non-Renewable Energy, Here’s the Difference!
What Is LNG’s Role in Today’s Energy Transition?
LNG plays a vital role as a bridge fuel toward a fully renewable energy system. Building large-scale solar or wind energy infrastructure requires substantial time and investment.
In this context, LNG serves as a solution to replace coal, particularly in power generation and energy-intensive industrial sectors.
Compared to coal, LNG combustion produces lower carbon emissions and air pollutants, contributing to gradual emission reductions while maintaining energy supply reliability.
At the same time, LNG infrastructure development is also seen as having future adaptability potential. This approach opens opportunities for existing energy assets to remain relevant on the path toward a low-carbon energy system.
References:
- IEA. Accessed in 2025. The Role of Gas in Today’s Energy Transitions
- IRENA. Accessed in 2025. Hydrogen
- IEA. Accessed in 2025. Biofuels
- DNV. Accessed in 2025. Ammonia as a Marine Fuel: Prospects and Challenges
