University of Sussex
Browse
Gilbert Sovacool LNG Exports Energy Final.pdf (823.84 kB)

US Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports: boom or bust for the global climate?

Download (823.84 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 09:05 authored by Alexander Q Gilbert, Benjamin SovacoolBenjamin Sovacool
Due to surging natural gas production, the United States is now a growing exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to overseas destinations. However, the potential greenhouse gas implications from increased US natural gas remain unclear. Through a hybrid lifecycle energy strategy analysis, we investigate potential greenhouse gas scenarios of US LNG exports to Asia, the largest source of global LNG demand. We find that the climate impacts of US exports to China, Japan, India, and South Korea could vary tremendously. Annual global lifecycle emissions range from -32 to +63 million metric tons CO2e per billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day of exports. Despite this range, emissions are not likely to decrease and may increase significantly due to greater global energy consumption, higher emissions in the US, and methane leakage. However, international climate obligations are a critical uncertainty underlying all emissions estimates. Our results indicate the need for further research into quantifying the climate impacts of LNG exports, and energy exports more generally.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Energy

ISSN

0360-5442

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

141

Page range

1671-1680

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-11-29

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-11-20

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-11-29

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC