3 minute read
The cool men of Antigua & Barbuda
Transition to clean energy - LNG is filling in the gap.
Never before has the need for improved energy efficiencies and reduced environmental impact been as important as it is right now. Over a billion people in the world still lack electricity, and just a dozen countries consume over 70 percent of the world’s electricity.
While continued growth of renewables, such as wind and solar, make up an increasing portion of the energy mix, over 60 percent of the world’s energy demand is still met by carbon-intensive sources, such as coal, diesel, and oil. Despite efforts to fully operationalise a renewable energy infrastructure, intermittency of these energy sources and cost-prohibitive battery storage still means a ‘gap’ persists between renewable energy supply and total energy demand. Caribbean LNG’s goal is to advance the clean energy transition by filling this ‘gap’ with something cleaner and more cost-effective than diesel, propane, or oil. We’ve started to build out the required infrastructure to partner with our customers on island and make this transition.
Cryogenic Fuel is Real Cool!
Emerging nations have already successfully switched over to liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel of choice for their power grids, ground transportation, and boiler requirements. In addition to being a viable energy source with multiple applications, access to United States LNG as a reliable, affordable energy source improves people’s health, education, food security and livelihoods and elevates poverty levels in developing nations. Many of the early LNG adopters are netting both unexpected economic and social benefits, which are also positively impacting their bottom line.
Small, Medium and Large-Scale LNG deliveries from the US are on the upswing. With the enviable Bald Eagle symbol, the USA-based company Eagle LNG has partnered with Antigua Power Company (APC) to build the Caribbean Liquid Natural Gas Company (CLNG) here on the island of Antigua. This certainly ranks among the most marketable Medium-scale LNG companies in the Caribbean. As larger volumes of LNG are exported globally, there is an increasing demand for smart and creative methods of distributing LNG fuel to other customers who may not otherwise be able to access it through these large-scale exports. Future customers will include cruise ship bunkering, industrial users, trucking, local island breweries, food and beverage plants, and asphalt production. The list of potential users is endless.
The central benefits of LNG are its affordability, abundance and low-carbon footprint. However, it also offers surprise benefits that, when capitalised on, can improve operations and efficiency while reducing costs. Capitalising on this LNG revolution, CLNG will continue to build out our global LNG infrastructure using ships, tanks and smaller ISO tanks for exports.
Conclusion: LNG holds immense energy potential compared to all other common fuels. When the multiple wonders are captured, plants can increase their overall efficiencies and lower production costs. The “Cool Men of Antigua and Barbuda” will be the future men of these islands.
By Kevin Frantz, Director of Business Development, LNG | Eagle LNG Energy Partners
