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world needs more electricity . Nearly one eighth of the world ’ s population still has no access to the reliable power that we , in the more developed world , all take for granted . Yet , areas like Africa are expected to double their population by 2050 , which means the demand for electricity will far exceed what we ’ re able to produce with renewables alone .
Though not perfect , when burned to produce power , natural gas is still around 50 percent cleaner than other traditional methods of energy production . When we electrify LNG production and create eLNG , we ’ re able to further reduce emissions .
Tell me more about the crucial role of LNG and the importance of electrification of LNG ( eLNG ) in the energy transition . The reality is that energy demand will continue to increase as our population grows and developing nations need access to reliable , affordable power . With renewables still expensive and intermittent , developing nations will turn to the lowest cost way to produce reliable power , so we cannot afford to put the brakes on LNG investment and infrastructure , but we do need to ensure that we produce it in the most efficient way possible , which is where eLNG comes into play .
Natural gas , when cooled down to -260 F , shrinks to 1 / 600th in size and can easily be transported to where it is needed most , overcoming the challenges of global distribution , for cleaner energy production . When we electrify that process , we further eliminate emissions that are required to super chill the natural gas .
In simple terms , eLNG is produced using electric power instead of fossil fuels to operate compressors , pumps , refrigeration units , and other necessary equipment . Gas turbines in the compression trains are replaced with large motors and variable frequency drives . Although more power will be required for this process , this can come from greener , renewable sources like hydroelectric , wind or solar , offset with traditional power from highly efficient combined cycle power plants .
What are the challenges and opportunities of eLNG as a clean energy source ? Electrifying the LNG process is undoubtedly complex , demanding high power volumes . The process therefore requires a localized power grid study to ensure grid stability and availability . Managing power on this scale is challenging . Large variable frequency drives can be susceptible to fluctuations in the power grid , even when they ’ re as short as 50 to 150 milliseconds , caused by wind or harsh winter weather . This is where ABB applies both its engineering expertise , and portfolio
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