IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v141y2017icp1671-1680.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports: Boom or bust for the global climate?

Author

Listed:
  • Gilbert, Alexander Q.
  • Sovacool, Benjamin K.

Abstract

Due to surging natural gas production, the United States is now a growing exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to overseas destinations. However, the potential greenhouse gas implications from increased US natural gas remain unclear. Through a hybrid lifecycle energy strategy analysis, we investigate potential greenhouse gas scenarios of US LNG exports to Asia, the largest source of global LNG demand. We find that the climate impacts of US exports to China, Japan, India, and South Korea could vary tremendously. Annual global lifecycle emissions range from −32 to +63 million metric tons CO2e per billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day of exports. Despite this range, emissions are not likely to decrease and may increase significantly due to greater global energy consumption, higher emissions in the US, and methane leakage. However, international climate obligations are a critical uncertainty underlying all emissions estimates. Our results indicate the need for further research into quantifying the climate impacts of LNG exports, and energy exports more generally.

Suggested Citation

  • Gilbert, Alexander Q. & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2017. "US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports: Boom or bust for the global climate?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 1671-1680.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:141:y:2017:i:c:p:1671-1680
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.11.098
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544217319564
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2017.11.098?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Smyth, Russell & Narayan, Paresh Kumar & Shi, Hongliang, 2011. "Substitution between energy and classical factor inputs in the Chinese steel sector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 361-367, January.
    2. Gilbert, Alexander Q. & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2017. "Benchmarking natural gas and coal-fired electricity generation in the United States," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 622-628.
    3. Hondo, Hiroki, 2005. "Life cycle GHG emission analysis of power generation systems: Japanese case," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 2042-2056.
    4. Yu, Shiwei & Wei, Yi-Ming & Guo, Haixiang & Ding, Liping, 2014. "Carbon emission coefficient measurement of the coal-to-power energy chain in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 290-300.
    5. Valentine, Scott & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Matsuura, Masahiro, 2011. "Empowered? Evaluating Japan's national energy strategy under the DPJ administration," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1865-1876, March.
    6. Lee, Kun-Mo & Lee, Sang-Yong & Hur, Tak, 2004. "Life cycle inventory analysis for electricity in Korea," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 87-101.
    7. Bambawale, Malavika Jain & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2011. "China's energy security: The perspective of energy users," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(5), pages 1949-1956, May.
    8. Valentine, Scott Victor & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2010. "The socio-political economy of nuclear power development in Japan and South Korea," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(12), pages 7971-7979, December.
    9. Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2008. "Valuing the greenhouse gas emissions from nuclear power: A critical survey," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 2940-2953, August.
    10. Hayashi, Masatsugu & Hughes, Larry, 2013. "The Fukushima nuclear accident and its effect on global energy security," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 102-111.
    11. Murata, Akinobu & Kondou, Yasuhiko & Hailin, Mu & Weisheng, Zhou, 2008. "Electricity demand in the Chinese urban household-sector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(12), pages 1113-1125, December.
    12. Kim, Hoseok & Shin, Eui-soon & Chung, Woo-jin, 2011. "Energy demand and supply, energy policies, and energy security in the Republic of Korea," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 6882-6897.
    13. Zhu, Zhi-Shuang & Liao, Hua & Cao, Huai-Shu & Wang, Lu & Wei, Yi-Ming & Yan, Jinyue, 2014. "The differences of carbon intensity reduction rate across 89 countries in recent three decades," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 808-815.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. George E. Halkos & Apostolos S. Tsirivis, 2023. "Electricity Production and Sustainable Development: The Role of Renewable Energy Sources and Specific Socioeconomic Factors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Gilbert, Alexander Q. & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2018. "Carbon pathways in the global gas market: An attributional lifecycle assessment of the climate impacts of liquefied natural gas exports from the United States to Asia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 635-643.
    3. Paul S. Ciccantell, 2020. "Liquefied Natural Gas: Redefining Nature, Restructuring Geopolitics, Returning to the Periphery?," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 79(1), pages 265-300, January.
    4. Bjerkan, Kristin Ystmark & Ryghaug, Marianne, 2021. "Diverging pathways to port sustainability: How social processes shape and direct transition work," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    5. Arkadiusz T. Borowiec, 2023. "Modeling Activities Related to Improving Energy Efficiency in the Public Procurement Process in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-12, March.
    6. Alessia Amato & Konstantina Tsigkou & Alessandro Becci & Francesca Beolchini & Nicolò M. Ippolito & Francesco Ferella, 2023. "Life Cycle Assessment of Biomethane vs. Fossil Methane Production and Supply," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-18, June.
    7. Vaillancourt, Kathleen & Bahn, Olivier & Roy, Pierre-Olivier & Patreau, Valérie, 2018. "Is there a future for new hydrocarbon projects in a decarbonizing energy system? A case study for Quebec (Canada)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 114-130.
    8. Najm, Sarah & Matsumoto, Ken'ichi, 2020. "Does renewable energy substitute LNG international trade in the energy transition?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    9. Pospíšil, Jiří & Charvát, Pavel & Arsenyeva, Olga & Klimeš, Lubomír & Špiláček, Michal & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír, 2019. "Energy demand of liquefaction and regasification of natural gas and the potential of LNG for operative thermal energy storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 1-15.
    10. Huerta, Felipe & Vesovic, Velisa, 2019. "A realistic vapour phase heat transfer model for the weathering of LNG stored in large tanks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 280-291.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nian, Victor, 2015. "Change impact analysis on the life cycle carbon emissions of energy systems – The nuclear example," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 437-450.
    2. Shaikh, Mohammad A. & Kucukvar, Murat & Onat, Nuri Cihat & Kirkil, Gokhan, 2017. "A framework for water and carbon footprint analysis of national electricity production scenarios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 406-421.
    3. Gilbert, Alexander Q. & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2018. "Carbon pathways in the global gas market: An attributional lifecycle assessment of the climate impacts of liquefied natural gas exports from the United States to Asia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 635-643.
    4. Robert Baťa & Jan Fuka & Petra Lešáková & Jana Heckenbergerová, 2019. "CO 2 Efficiency Break Points for Processes Associated to Wood and Coal Transport and Heating," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-21, October.
    5. Xiangsheng Dou, 2017. "Low Carbon Technology Innovation, Carbon Emissions Trading and Relevant Policy Support for China s Low Carbon Economy Development," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 7(2), pages 172-184.
    6. Zhi-Fu Mi & Yi-Ming Wei & Chen-Qi He & Hua-Nan Li & Xiao-Chen Yuan & Hua Liao, 2017. "Regional efforts to mitigate climate change in China: a multi-criteria assessment approach," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 45-66, January.
    7. Jānis Krūmiņš & Māris Kļaviņš, 2023. "Investigating the Potential of Nuclear Energy in Achieving a Carbon-Free Energy Future," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-31, April.
    8. Eising, Jan Willem & van Onna, Tom & Alkemade, Floortje, 2014. "Towards smart grids: Identifying the risks that arise from the integration of energy and transport supply chains," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 448-455.
    9. Yang, Ranran & Long, Ruyin & Yue, Ting & Shi, Haihong, 2014. "Calculation of embodied energy in Sino-USA trade: 1997–2011," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 110-119.
    10. Shu-Hong Wang & Ma-Lin Song & Tao Yu, 2019. "Hidden Carbon Emissions, Industrial Clusters, and Structure Optimization in China," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 54(4), pages 1319-1342, December.
    11. Valentine, Scott Victor, 2014. "The socio-political economy of electricity generation in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 416-429.
    12. Xiao, Hao & Sun, Ke-Juan & Bi, Hui-Min & Xue, Jin-Jun, 2019. "Changes in carbon intensity globally and in countries: Attribution and decomposition analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1492-1504.
    13. Zhao, Xueting & Wesley Burnett, J. & Lacombe, Donald J., 2015. "Province-level convergence of China’s carbon dioxide emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 286-295.
    14. Li, Jin & Wang, Rui & Li, Haoran & Nie, Yaoyu & Song, Xinke & Li, Mingyu & Shi, Mai & Zheng, Xinzhu & Cai, Wenjia & Wang, Can, 2021. "Unit-level cost-benefit analysis for coal power plants retrofitted with biomass co-firing at a national level by combined GIS and life cycle assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    15. Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2008. "Valuing the greenhouse gas emissions from nuclear power: A critical survey," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 2940-2953, August.
    16. Qianyu Zhao & Boyu Xie & Mengyao Han, 2023. "Unpacking the Sub-Regional Spatial Network of Land-Use Carbon Emissions: The Case of Sichuan Province in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-22, October.
    17. Guangfang Luo & Jianjun Zhang & Yongheng Rao & Xiaolei Zhu & Yiqiang Guo, 2017. "Coal Supply Chains: A Whole-Process-Based Measurement of Carbon Emissions in a Mining City of China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, November.
    18. Wang, Ke & Zhang, Jianjun & Cai, Bofeng & Yu, Shengmin, 2019. "Emission factors of fugitive methane from underground coal mines in China: Estimation and uncertainty," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 273-282.
    19. Turconi, Roberto & Boldrin, Alessio & Astrup, Thomas, 2013. "Life cycle assessment (LCA) of electricity generation technologies: Overview, comparability and limitations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 555-565.
    20. Yuan, Baolong & Ren, Shenggang & Chen, Xiaohong, 2015. "The effects of urbanization, consumption ratio and consumption structure on residential indirect CO2 emissions in China: A regional comparative analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 94-106.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:141:y:2017:i:c:p:1671-1680. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.