Natural Gas is the Cleanest Fossil Fuel

CNG can be used in place of gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel and propane/LPG. CNG combustion produces fewer undesirable gases. It is safer than other fuels in the event of a spill, because natural gas is lighter than air and disperses quickly when released. CNG is made by compressing natural gas (which is mainly composed of methane, CH4), to less than 1 percent of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure. It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a certain pressure, usually in cylindrical or spherical shapes, and used in traditional gasoline/internal combustion engine automobiles that have been modified or in vehicles which were manufactured for CNG use, either alone (‘dedicated’), with a segregated gasoline system to extend range (dual fuel) or in conjunction with another fuel such as diesel (bi-fuel). Natural gas vehicles are increasingly used in response to high fuel prices and environmental concerns.

LNG is principally used for transporting natural gas to markets, where it is re-gasified and distributed as pipeline natural gas. It is natural gas (predominantly methane, CH4, with some mixture of ethane C2H6f) that has been converted to liquid form for ease of storage or transport. It is odorless, colorless, non-toxic and non-corrosive. LNG achieves a higher reduction in volume than compressed natural gas (CNG) which makes LNG cost efficient to transport over long distances where pipelines do not exist. It can be used in natural gas vehicles.

LPG, also referred to as simply propane or butane, are flammable mixtures of hydrocarbon gases used as fuel in heating appliances, cooking equipment, and vehicles. LPG is prepared by refining petroleum or “wet” natural gas, and is almost entirely derived from fossil fuel sources, being manufactured during the refining of petroleum (crude oil), or extracted from petroleum or natural gas streams as they emerge from the ground. It burns relatively cleanly with no soot and very few sulfur emissions. As it is a gas, it does not pose ground or water pollution hazards, but it can cause air pollution.