Facilitating LNG application in landlocked Europe: An overview of potentials and challenges

The importance of natural gas as primary energy carrier is constantly increasing. The usage of LNG as fuel for marine and inland navigation and as road fuel is very promising. The results of the evaluation of LNG potential in landlocked regions of Europe (Austria was taken as an example) are presented. This potential could be exploited by distributing LNG along the Rhine-Main-Danube axis to Central Europe as LNG is ideally suited for being transported by vessel. The ecological benefits are apparent as LNG is able to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions because it causes about 20% less CO₂, 80-90% less NO_x, and almost zero particulate matter and SO_x. Economic advantages include the diversification of the energy mix which leads to a reduction of the gas monopoly power. The companies in Austria mainly showed dedicated interest for LNG as an alternative fueling option. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the International Gas Union Research Conference (Copenhagen, Denmark 9/17-19/2014).