Greenhouse gas emissions from the US liquefied natural gas operations and shipping through process model based life cycle assessment

Abstract Given the increasing importance of liquefied natural gas in the global energy system, an understanding of natural gas value chain Greenhouse gas emissions is increasingly important. Here, we develop models of the key unit processes in the liquefied natural gas value chain: liquefaction, shi...

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Main Authors: Mainak Mukherjee, James Littlefield, Harshvardhan Khutal, Krista M. Kirchner-Ortiz, Kaitlyn G. Davis, Liang Jing, Farah Ramadan, Hassan El-Houjeiri, Mohammad S. Masnadi, Adam R. Brandt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Communications Earth & Environment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01988-2
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author Mainak Mukherjee
James Littlefield
Harshvardhan Khutal
Krista M. Kirchner-Ortiz
Kaitlyn G. Davis
Liang Jing
Farah Ramadan
Hassan El-Houjeiri
Mohammad S. Masnadi
Adam R. Brandt
author_facet Mainak Mukherjee
James Littlefield
Harshvardhan Khutal
Krista M. Kirchner-Ortiz
Kaitlyn G. Davis
Liang Jing
Farah Ramadan
Hassan El-Houjeiri
Mohammad S. Masnadi
Adam R. Brandt
author_sort Mainak Mukherjee
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Given the increasing importance of liquefied natural gas in the global energy system, an understanding of natural gas value chain Greenhouse gas emissions is increasingly important. Here, we develop models of the key unit processes in the liquefied natural gas value chain: liquefaction, shipping, and regasification. We utilize detailed process-level data for liquefaction terminals and ships to generate granular estimates. Average gate-to-gate emissions of 0.220 and 0.269 tonnes of CO2e/tonne gas liquefied were estimated for US liquefied gas exported from Sabine Pass and Cove Point liquefaction terminals, respectively. Furthermore, 331 voyages are modeled from four US ports reaching 30 countries, and the average gate-to-gate emissions for the countries to Asia are the highest at 0.200 tonnes CO2e/tonnes of gas delivered. The estimated average gate-to-gate emissions for regasification terminals is 0.021 tonnes CO2e/tonne of gas regasified. The developed models can be expanded to other regions, offering a global analysis provision.
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spelling doaj-art-76bd2cc8f30f43e68adaa78ed2f4bf2b2025-08-20T02:36:41ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-01-016111410.1038/s43247-024-01988-2Greenhouse gas emissions from the US liquefied natural gas operations and shipping through process model based life cycle assessmentMainak Mukherjee0James Littlefield1Harshvardhan Khutal2Krista M. Kirchner-Ortiz3Kaitlyn G. Davis4Liang Jing5Farah Ramadan6Hassan El-Houjeiri7Mohammad S. Masnadi8Adam R. Brandt9Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Stanford UniversityClimate and Sustainability Group, Aramco Research Center–Detroit, Aramco AmericasKeyLogic Systems LLCKeyLogic Systems LLCKeyLogic Systems LLCClimate and Sustainability Group, Aramco Research Center–Detroit, Aramco AmericasClimate and Sustainability Group, Aramco Research Center–Detroit, Aramco AmericasEnergy Traceability Technology, Technology Strategy and Planning Department, AramcoDepartment of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, University of PittsburghDepartment of Energy Science and Engineering, Stanford UniversityAbstract Given the increasing importance of liquefied natural gas in the global energy system, an understanding of natural gas value chain Greenhouse gas emissions is increasingly important. Here, we develop models of the key unit processes in the liquefied natural gas value chain: liquefaction, shipping, and regasification. We utilize detailed process-level data for liquefaction terminals and ships to generate granular estimates. Average gate-to-gate emissions of 0.220 and 0.269 tonnes of CO2e/tonne gas liquefied were estimated for US liquefied gas exported from Sabine Pass and Cove Point liquefaction terminals, respectively. Furthermore, 331 voyages are modeled from four US ports reaching 30 countries, and the average gate-to-gate emissions for the countries to Asia are the highest at 0.200 tonnes CO2e/tonnes of gas delivered. The estimated average gate-to-gate emissions for regasification terminals is 0.021 tonnes CO2e/tonne of gas regasified. The developed models can be expanded to other regions, offering a global analysis provision.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01988-2
spellingShingle Mainak Mukherjee
James Littlefield
Harshvardhan Khutal
Krista M. Kirchner-Ortiz
Kaitlyn G. Davis
Liang Jing
Farah Ramadan
Hassan El-Houjeiri
Mohammad S. Masnadi
Adam R. Brandt
Greenhouse gas emissions from the US liquefied natural gas operations and shipping through process model based life cycle assessment
Communications Earth & Environment
title Greenhouse gas emissions from the US liquefied natural gas operations and shipping through process model based life cycle assessment
title_full Greenhouse gas emissions from the US liquefied natural gas operations and shipping through process model based life cycle assessment
title_fullStr Greenhouse gas emissions from the US liquefied natural gas operations and shipping through process model based life cycle assessment
title_full_unstemmed Greenhouse gas emissions from the US liquefied natural gas operations and shipping through process model based life cycle assessment
title_short Greenhouse gas emissions from the US liquefied natural gas operations and shipping through process model based life cycle assessment
title_sort greenhouse gas emissions from the us liquefied natural gas operations and shipping through process model based life cycle assessment
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01988-2
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