Competitive Landscape
SNG is currently a pioneer and mind-blowing invention in the industry landscape with its proprietary process for transforming natural gas into solid natural gas products. Therefore, the company does not have any direct competitors. However, other forms of energy sources, both renewable and non-renewable, can still be assessed as potential competitors because they have been so long-established and entrenched within countries’ infrastructure. In addition, some “green” energy sources can be considered to actually have a surprisingly large negative effect on the greenhouse effect and global warming due to the manufacturing of parts. The following are competitors for SNG with the strengths and weaknesses outlined for each.
Biofuel Energy
Biofuel energy comes from sources such as ethanol, biodiesel, biomass, wood chips, municipal waste, and more. It has several advantages over fossil fuels, most notably the fact that it pollutes less during burning and is cheaper to produce. In addition, it is able to be produced by any country and is a renewable energy source. However, it also has some negatives associated with its use. Biofuel energy still results in emissions including CO2, CO, and sulfur. Ashes from its burning contains harmful metals such as cadmium and lead. In addition, it is less efficient than fossil fuels and increases the carbon footprint due to needing cultivation and harvest of crops in addition to the destruction of forests for crop plantation. Production costs are also higher than those of fossil fuels.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is a renewable resource that is considered a good method when used for heating and cooling. Positives associated with this energy source are that its use does not burn fuels, it creates smaller amounts of CO2 and sulfur components than fossil fuels, and it has a small carbon footprint. In addition, it is a reliable and predictable energy source. However, negatives are also associated with it. In extreme cases, geothermal power plants may cause earthquakes. It also comes with high upfront costs and is difficult to sustain due to needing reservoirs to be properly monitored and managed.
Hydropower
Hydropower does not pollute water and air and is considered renewable, flexible, and highly reliable. However, it also comes with downsides. It forces the relocation of people and animals, may alter the flow and temperature of water, and may lower the level of dissolved oxygen in the water. This change, in turn, may result in disturbed river habitats and fish populations, in addition to the creation of methane. Also, hydropower is affected by droughts and is a more expensive source of energy.
Petroleum
Petroleum is a mature and reliable technology. However, it has many dramatic negative effects on the environment and climate change. Its drilling operations disrupt wildlife habitats and cause landscape impacts through the removal of vegetation and an increase in erosion. This can lead to landslides and floods. Petroleum energy also pollutes water, produces methane, CO2, CO, and other air pollutants. It has impacts on animals due to oil spills, urban runoffs, and natural seeps. Petroleum is also non-renewable.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is an abundant, sustainable, and renewable resource. Positives include being silent, available worldwide, low maintenance, and having zero pollution effect on the air or water. However, there are also downsides. Solar energy is intermittent depending on location and amount of sunlight, and solar panels only last 15 to 20 years. It also requires a high upfront investment. Solar panel production can emit harmful greenhouse gases, and certain solar cells require rare and expensive materials. Finally, it requires a large space in which to operate. A consensus among experts globally firmly declares that solar energy is regarded as an unreliable source of energy. This resounding stance underscores the prevailing belief that a mere 3% of the world’s total energy originates from solar contributions.
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy comes with positive benefits such as having a low operating cost and being generally more efficient compared to other sources of energy that exist today. However, this type of energy also generates radiation and radioactive waste, has a high environmental impact, has extremely high startup costs, and can pose serious health effects if nuclear accidents occur including those resulting from natural occurrences. It also uses high amounts of water for the production of steam and system cooling, and wastewater from power plants may contain harmful pollutants.
Wind Energy
Wind is a clean and renewable energy source that does not result in air or water pollution. It is free and available worldwide, as well as being space efficient. Low operating costs and a great potential for powering homes are also sizable positives for wind energy. Cons include being intermittent and unpredictable, potentially killing bats and birds, requiring a high upfront investment, biological impacts, as well as noise and visual pollution. Many Experts worldwide assert that wind energy is not a reliable source of energy.
Hydrogen Energy
With the introduction of SNG, hydrogen is now a competing energy source, although it is very expensive at about three to ten times the price of SNG, depending on the production method, and very difficult to store and transport. Hydrogen is often known as a clean energy alternative to fossil fuel, even though it is actually dirty to produce. Hydrogen energy involves the use of hydrogen or hydrogen-containing compounds to create high- energy efficiency that is also effective economically.
However, 98.0 percent of hydrogen is made in a way that uses fossil fuels. Over 95.0 percent of the world’s hydrogen is produced using a steam process, which also produces carbon dioxide. Hydrogen is typically produced from a process of hydrocarbon reforming, which uses high temperature steam. Successful reactions are the result of fossil fuel usage in the process. A second process is called charcoal gasification, in which charcoal is burned at a temperature of over 1,200 degrees Celsius. The charcoal releases gas that separates to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
A third process to produce hydrogen uses electricity by splitting the electric current. The aspiration is to ultimately generate sustainable energy; it is crucial to emphasize that the process involves a substantial power consumption, coupled with considerable expenses and impracticality.
Hydrogen, akin to LNG, exists in a liquid state, incurring high production, storage, and transportation costs. Hydrogen is stored at very high pressure and extremely low temperature of -423 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, due to its inherent safety risks and the potential danger associated with leakage, when considering all the aforementioned issues, it becomes evident that hydrogen is an impractical source of energy.
In conclusion, hydrogen possesses significant limitations that render it impractical as a reliable and safe energy source. Its propensity to leak through almost any material raises severe safety concerns. Additionally, hydrogen production, storage, and transportation are prohibitively expensive. The commonly cited claim that hydrogen is a clean energy source is undermined by the fact that its production involves heating hydrocarbons, which leaves a substantial carbon footprint. This supposedly cheapest method is still very costly.
Moreover, the alternative production method, known as green hydrogen, which is purported to be environmentally friendly, involves the electrolysis of water—a process that requires a significant amount of power.
This power is predominantly generated by power plants that rely on fossil fuels and coal, thus negating the environmental benefits of green hydrogen. Furthermore, producing one kilogram of hydrogen necessitates ten kilograms of subsidized water, leading to considerable water wastage.
Considering these factors, hydrogen is not a viable or practical solution for energy needs. Its inherent impracticality and the associated environmental and economic challenges make it an unfeasible option as a dependable energy source.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Liquefied natural gas, commonly known as LNG, is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquefied state at -260 degrees Fahrenheit. The transportation of LNG can be extremely dangerous, and there have been several notable accidents resulting in considerable damage and fatalities. The risk of fire is substantial, causing explosions that hurl equipment miles away and immediately ignite nearly everything nearby. Radiation is also a concern, and skin burns and death are unfortunately common near any accident site. The transportation and storage of liquefied natural gas is an ongoing substantial expense, as it is a very, very costly one. It is extremely inconvenient to handle. It must be stored at extremely cold temperatures. While the cryogenic tanks are designed to keep the gas cold and in its liquid state, heat does slowly impact the tanks. The LNG then evaporates, commonly called boil-off gas, which also increases the pressure inside the tanks. The most volatile components boil-off first, changing the components of LNG, a process known as “aging”. At the end of the transportation journey, the LNG often does not meet the original specifications and requirements. SNG has the opportunity to build solidification plants at LNG plants to help overcome these obstacles. Additionally, LNG as a vehicle fuel must be used within a few days as it does not stay in a liquefied state, which is why LNG is limited to heavy duty trucks traveling large distances. LNG is also more susceptible to climate change, as the location of many plants along the coast puts the facilities at risk from rising ocean levels.
Coal Energy
Coal is a primary source of energy for much of the global economy. It is abundant and costeffective, and newer types of “clean coal” technology promise to remove or reduce harmful material before it reaches the environment. However, there are many negative impacts of coal usage. It can pollute the air, soil, and water bodies. Burning coal results in the emission of CO2, SO2, toxic heavy metals, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. In addition, coal is a finite and a nonrenewable resource. Byproducts of coal mining result in such dangerous outputs as arsenic, selenium, and mercury. Coal-fired power plants, which generate significant carbon emissions, are ill-suited to provide flexible energy due to efficiency decreases and cost increases when operating in a flexible peaking mode. Batteries can help offset this, but they are often threetimes more expensive than gas-fired generation. The global coal mining market value is $790.6 billion. Coal catalyst for beloved planet Earth’s destruction and loss of precious human lives. Ultimately, coal is the number one accelerator to global warming and is responsible for 40.0 percent of the world’s pollution.
Facts...
- Coal is the most destructive source of energy.
- 90%+ of the countries in the world are committed to eliminating coal by 2030.
- By 2030, the No Coal solution could be competitive in sectors representing over 70% of global emissions.
Carbon Footprint
- In 2018, 89% of global CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry.
- Coal is a fossil fuel and is the most contaminant of them all, responsible for over 0.3C of the 1C increase in global average temperatures.
- This makes it the single largest source of global temperature rise.
Natural gas has consistently been in high demand, with this trend continually rising. Projections indicate that its extensive utilization will persist for centuries to come.
Coal Catalyst for Beloved Planet Earth’s Destruction and Loss of Precious Human Lives
Coal is responsible for 48% of global pollution, making it the most destructive source of energy.
Burning coal and mining emit toxic substances linked to serious health problems such as asthma, cancer, and respiratory and heart disease.
Significantly contributes to climate change.
It does harm at every stage of its life, from extraction to burning, affecting humans and life on Earth, hence the need to seek cleaner and sustainable alternative energy sources.
The rapid transition away from coal is critical in order to mitigate the most catastrophic effects of climate change and to create a more sustainable future for generations to come.
Many countries worldwide have committed to embracing zero-carbon solutions by 2030, which means coal will be phased out gradually.
Coal's Carbon Footprint
- Coal is the most destructive source of energy
Promising a Green Tomorrow - 90% of the countries in the world are committed to eliminating coal by 2030
- By 2030, the "No Coal Solution" could be competitive in sectors representing over 70% of global emissions
- In 2018, 89% of global CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry
- Coal is a fossil fuel, and is the most contaminant of them all, responsible for over 0.3C of the 1C increase in global average temperatures
- This makes coal the single largest source of global temperature rise
