The Future of Home Heating: LPG and SNG

Did you know that heating costs for EU citizens account for 10% of their household budget and are second only to food and housing costs? In 2022, due to geopolitical events and the ensuing energy crisis, household energy costs have risen to 12% (European Commission) of the total budget for the most vulnerable people. Against the backdrop of energy crises, volatile energy markets and global climate change, the services of companies such as I-MAXIMUM are gaining popularity. Especially since in today’s realities, the issue is not only about price, but also about environmental impact. Of course, convenience is not of the least importance either.

The threat of natural gas shortages for traditional heating systems and the volatility of gas prices due to political factors are rapidly increasing interest in alternatives. And this interest can be seen at all levels: from ordinary citizens to industrial companies. This is why LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and SNG (Synthetic Natural Gas), often used in combination with advanced equipment such as the PG-KVD gas vaporizer, which you can learn more about at https://i-maximum.com/products/gas-vaporizer-pg-kvd/455130838, are more relevant than ever. Can LPG and SNG become a stable alternative solution for domestic heating? The answer is obvious, but first it is worth taking a closer look at the two types of gas to understand the differences between them. Below we will briefly analyse the environmental friendliness, cost effectiveness, advantages and disadvantages, availability and prospects for LPG and SNG in the near future.

Understanding LPG and SNG — innovative alternatives for home heating

In your choice of heating system it is worthwhile to clearly understand and consider the needs of the individual home, but firstly it is important to understand the difference between LPG and SNG.

LPG is liquefied petroleum gas, the main components of which are propane and butane. The gas has a high calorific value and energy density, higher than natural gas when burned relatively clean. The price of LPG is usually cheaper than SNG, as it is a by-product of oil production and refining. LPG is stored in cylinders or tanks in liquefied form: its applications range from household cooking, water heating, heating, to production in the chemical industry.

SNG is a synthetic natural gas, the main component of which is methane. The gas is created artificially from coal, oil or biomass, and therefore, due to the complexity of production, it is slightly more expensive than LPG. It has the advantage of being more environmentally friendly. SNG is stored and transported both in gaseous and liquefied form. Due to its more expensive cost, it is mainly used in industry and for heating and production processes as a substitute for natural gas.

According to recent studies published on Wärtsilä, LPG and SNG alone can reduce CO2 emissions by 20-30 per cent. Add in the flexibility of use, the high quality of the heating system and the ease of installation of the equipment, and you end up with a good option that deserves the attention of both household owners and industry. With the prices of conventional energy sources constantly rising and the need to reduce the environmental impact, LPG and SNG look like very attractive alternatives and reliable heating solutions. To be fair, two other alternatives to conventional energy resources are biomass and electric heating; the former due to its long extraction process and the latter due to its high cost cannot compete.

Saving on heating — financial benefits of using LPG and SNG

Let’s talk in terms of increasing comfort and reducing costs for heating or industrial production with LPG and SNG. We can talk a lot about saving money, but the efficiency of the latter starts with choosing in favour of alternatives to natural gas – these are LPG and SNG, which provide a real opportunity to reduce heating costs without reducing your comfort.

Three arguments: why LPG and SNG help you save money?

Higher calorific value of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and SNG (synthetic natural gas) compared to natural gas (methane). Thus, the calorific value of the former is about 94 MJ/m³, while the latter is only 38 MJ/m³. The output difference is in favour of LPG and SNG, capable of producing twice as much energy per unit volume compared to natural gas.
The technical characteristics of heating systems based on LPG and SNG allow for more precise regulation of the room temperature, thus optimising fuel consumption, which will result in lower costs.
According to the Energy Savings Trust, the use of LPG and SNG heating systems can potentially reduce utility costs by up to 15%. For Scandinavian countries, the average annual heating cost is around 20,000 kroner (approx. 1,800 euros). A 15 percent reduction in costs translates into savings of about 3,000 kroner (€270) per year.

In terms of savings, the initial LPG and SNG investment pays for itself. For some consumers, the question of the initial installation costs for LPG (approx. 20,000 to 50,000 kroner or 1,800 to 4,500 euros) and SNG (approx. 30,000 to 70,000 kroner or 2,700 to 6,300 euros) may seem too expensive as a cost-saving solution, but it already falls away with superficial calculations because the investment pays off in the long term in terms of fuel savings. Equipment such as the Liquid-to-Gas LPG System enhances efficiency, helping these systems achieve an average payback period of 7 to 10 years for LPG and 10 to 15 years for SNG, depending on specific conditions and costs. Also, against the background of the higher operating costs of conventional gas systems, manufacturers such as I-MAXIMUM offer favourable conditions for the purchase and installation of equipment.

Environmental benefits — protecting the environment with LPG and SNG

The Nature Conservation Act as well as the 8th Environmental Action Programme 2030 declare the achievement of the European Green Deal objectives, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the transition to a sustainable economy and the protection of biodiversity. These circumstances make us realise and accept the fact that the environment will be an issue in the near foreseeable future, in which every homeowner or industrialist must do their part to preserve nature — to make the right choice.

Two arguments in favour of LPG and SNG as an environmentally correct solution:

The CO₂ emission from the combustion of LPG and SNG is 50% less when compared to coal. In industry, this figure is closer to 40 per cent, the reason being technological processes that include additional processing steps before combustion.
The principle of more is less in action: When natural gas (including LPG and SNG) is burned, CO₂ emissions are between 0.6 and 2 pounds (0.91 kg) per kilowatt-hour (CO₂E/kWh), while coal emits between 1.4 and 3.6 pounds (1.63 kg) CO₂E/kWh. This means that switching to LPG and SNG can reduce CO₂ emissions by 50% compared to coal.

Of course, there are counterarguments associated with LPG and SNG extraction. Like any fuel extraction, it also implies the risk of negative environmental impact, dependence on fossil fuels, and energy costs for production. So far, solar and wind energy do not answer the question of necessary energy demands, as they are critically dependent on weather conditions and therefore require significant investments and take up a lot of space. Given the transition to a cyclical economy and zero emissions, it is the LPG and SNG approach that offers a comprehensive solution for choosing energy sources and taking into account all factors affecting the environment.

Conclusión

LPG and SNG are not just fuels; they represent a holistic approach to today’s energy challenges. Using equipment like the LPG Gas Conversion System, these gases can help achieve significant reductions in heating costs, support environmental initiatives, and mitigate dependence on volatile energy markets. With the global shift towards sustainable energy sources, LPG and SNG offer an efficient and flexible alternative to traditional gas and coal, particularly for households and industry. By choosing LPG and SNG with advanced vaporisation systems, we are not only saving money but also actively contributing to a more environmentally responsible future.