Power Generation - World Liquid Gas (WLGA)

The world’s electricity consumption has continuously grown over the past half-century, reaching approximately 25,300 terawatt hours in 2021. Between 1980 and 2021, electricity consumption more than tripled, while the global population increased by roughly 75 percent.

In 2019, almost two thirds (63.3%) of global electricity came from fossil fuels. Of the 36.7% that came from low-carbon sources, renewables accounted for 26.3% and nuclear energy for 10.4%.

The share of renewable power generation is steadily growing but the energy mix can differ fundamentally from region to region.

LPG for
Power Generation

Reliable power generation, anywhere

The role of LPG

Liquid Gas, including LPG, is the ideal fuel for a wide range of power generation applications, from small back-up generators to large-scale power plants. LPG is increasingly used in homes, businesses, hospitals and for mobile generators to provide efficient, reliable and clean power. With governments and power companies looking to replace polluting coal, diesel or heavy oil plants, LPG offers a cost-efficient and low-emissions alternative for areas that are not connected to the natural gas grid.

Generators

LPG offers clean, reliable and proven solutions mobile generators that are used at events, on construction sites or to provide back-up power.

Power plants

LPG is increasingly being used in large-scale power generation, especially on islands, in remote areas and in developing regions that are not connected to the natural gas grid.

LPG can be used for small- and large-scale power generation.

Reliability

LPG can be stored on-site, thus increasing up-time. Since LPG does not degrade, it can be stored for an extended amount of time.

Remote areas

For islands or other remote areas, LPG is the ideal solution since it does not require a connection to the natural gas network.

Local energy

Smaller power plants can be set up close to where energy is needed, thus avoiding energy loss over power lines and ensuring that virtually every kw/h is used.

Partner for renewable energy

LPG is the ideal partner for solar, wind and other forms of renewable power. It can complement renewable power production or act as a back-up.

Easy transport

LPG is easier to transport that liquid natural gas (LNG).

Infrastructure

Many areas around the world already have LPG terminals at ports.

Emissions

Switching from coal, diesel or heavy fuel oil will substantially reduce both CO₂ and particulate emissions.

Transition

LPG for power generation can act as a ‘bridge’ until natural gas infrastructure is built.

Power Generation by the numbers

Electricity generation accounted for one fifth of final energy consumption in 2022.

%

Oil, coal and natural gas fuelled 38.6% of EU electricity generation in 2022.

In 2022, LPG generated about two thirds of the US Virgin Islands’ electricity.

LPG and
the energy transition

The International Energy Agency (IEA) anticipates a 50% growth in the demand for natural gas in the period 2016 to 2040 – with much of this growth associated with electricity generation, amid an acceleration of the trend away from using coal-fired power plants. Where pipeline infrastructure exists in close proximity to the demand, natural gas is clearly the gaseous fuel of choice.

However, many countries do not have an established network of natural gas pipelines. In countries where these do exist, infrastructure is often reserved for areas of high population density and/or centres of industrial activity, leaving more remote areas with little or no access to natural gas.

In such cases, there is a clear opportunity for LPG to provide a solution for power generation – especially when new power plants are necessary to meet increasing electricity demand.

In the future, there is also likely to be an emerging opportunity associated with the use of LPG power generation in combination with renewables such as solar photovoltaics and wind power. These ‘hybrid’ (or microgrid) projects are likely to be particularly well-suited to remote, or island, locations which currently rely on expensive diesel to meet their power needs.