Synthetic natural gas (SNG)

Synthetic natural gas or substitute natural gas (SNG) is an artificially produced version of natural gas.
SNG can be produced from coal, biomass, petroleum coke, or solid waste.
The carbon‐containing mass can be gasified; the resulting syngas can then be converted to methane, the major component of natural gas.

Depending on the source fuel, SNG can be a low-carbon or even carbon-free substitute for fossil fuels.
Thanks to its composition, it can be mixed and used interchangeably with natural gas in all applications.
Liquefied or compressed SNG can be transported or stored in the gas grid.

The environmental impact of SNG depends on 2 main factors:

• the feedstock used to create the synthetic gas
• the fuel replaced by the gas in its final application

As cleaner, carbon-neutral supplies increase and their production becomes more energy efficient as part of the energy transition, they can slowly take over from natural gas.

Synthetic natural gas is a future fuel and an essential component in the energy transition, which will make several energy-intense industries more efficient and sustainable, while lowering their carbon footprint.

Bio-SNG is produced similarly to regular synthetic natural gas, but is instead made through the gasification of biomass.
Biomass such as forestry residues or energy crops are used.
To make Bio-SNG, biomass is initially dried and goes through initial gasification.
After this, it undergoes gas conditioning, SNG synthesis, and finally gas upgrading