What is liquefied natural gas, and how is it used?

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas in a liquid state. We cool natural gas to a temperature of -162 °C so it becomes liquid, which takes up much less storage space than as a gas, making it more efficient to store and transport.

More about LNG 

When natural gas is cooled to -162 °C, it liquefies and becomes much more condensed—roughly the equivalent of shrinking a beach ball to the size of a ping pong ball. LNG has significantly less sulphur oxide emissions, particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions when compared with coal or diesel.¹

LNG is not flammable or explosive in its liquid form, which means transporting natural gas as LNG is one of the safest ways to transport energy. Learn the facts about LNG safety.

How our customers use LNG

• LNG has an important role in providing the Lower Mainland with a vital backup energy supply on some of its coldest days.
• LNG is a lower-carbon fuel compared to diesel² that can be used for trucks, trains and ships, or it can be converted back into natural gas for residential and commercial use. FortisBC uses LNG to supplement the Lower Mainland gas supply during periods of high demand.
• BC Ferries and Seaspan Ferries as well as heavy-duty trucking customers such as Vedder Transport Ltd. and Ken Johnson Transport use LNG as a lower-carbon, affordable fuel for their fleets.
• Natural gas is a lower-carbon fuel that results in fewer emissions of nearly all types of air pollutants and carbon dioxide emissions when compared with coal for power generation.³ FortisBC provides LNG via ISO containers⁴ for regional and international markets to help reduce overall emissions. Currently, LNG produced at FortisBC’s Tilbury LNG facility is for sale in local, regional and international markets.
• The Tilbury LNG facility is powered by renewable hydroelectricity and produces LNG with nearly 30 per cent less carbon intensity than the global LNG supply, on average.⁵