Solothurn, 3 March 2023 – Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is very important in terms of ensuring a secure supply of energy from natural gas. On the one hand, it offers an alternative to natural gas imports from Russia, while on the other hand it can be used to generate electricity locally in combined heat and power (CHP) plants. The latter aspect can also help stabilise the power grid if the electricity supply from conventional power stations gets too low. Regio Energie Solothurn is now incorporating LNG into its gas supply network for the first time.
The importance of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has increased significantly in Europe as a result of the war in Ukraine and the associated suspension of deliveries of gas from Russia. Natural gas is usually transported in pipelines under high pressure and in a gaseous state. However, if you cool natural gas down to minus 162 degrees Celsius, the gas becomes liquid. Such cooling also reduces the volume of the substance by a factor of 600 – but the amount of energy contained therein remains the same. LNG is usually transported on ships after the liquefaction process has been completed. The major advantage of LNG involves the fact that it makes it possible to transport energy over long distances in a compact form, which means it can also be obtained and processed in places that are not linked to international pipeline networks for natural gas. Key suppliers of LNG are the USA, Qatar, Malaysia and Australia.
Regio Energie Solothurn will feed 38 tonnes of LNG into its gas grid in March 2023. This corresponds to approximately 500,000 kilowatt-hours, which is enough to provide heat for one year to 25 relatively old single-family houses with an annual consumption of 20,000 kilowatt-hours each. The LNG for Regio Energie Solothurn will be transported to Zuchwil in Iso tanks. It will then be heated using a vaporiser unit. This will cause it to transform back into a gaseous state, after which it can be fed into the gas grid. The first tank was delivered on 2 March 2023 and the second is scheduled to be delivered a week later.
Regio Energie Solothurn is looking to gain experience through the project, as LNG could become a component of the energy company’s procurement strategy in future and thus play a role in ensuring the security of supply for both gas and electricity. That’s because besides being fed into the natural gas grid, LNG can also be used in the CHP plant at a hybrid facility operated by Regio Energie Solothurn. This CHP plant uses gas to produce electricity and heat, which means that if the electricity supply from conventional power stations gets too low, the plant could make an important contribution to ensuring the security of supply in the Swiss power grid.
Biogas can be transported in much the same way as LNG. Regio Energie Solothurn continues to do everything in its power to ensure it can supply its customers with energy in a safe, economical and environmentally friendly manner.
