LPG vs Natural Gas: Which is Better?

When weighing liquefied petroleum gas vs natural gas options, it’s crucial to understand each fuel’s unique advantages and potential drawbacks.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel made primarily of methane (CH₄), a colorless and odorless gas.  It’s extracted from deep underground reservoirs and is commonly found near oil reserves. Natural gas is often viewed as the more accessible fuel source due to its widespread use and availability in urban areas.

Pros:

• Affordable and cost-effective due to established infrastructure, making it an economical choice for household and business users alike.

• On-demand supply through pipelines ensures continuous delivery without the need for tank refills or storage space.

• Lower carbon emission levels make it a more environmentally friendly choice for those transitioning away from higher-emission fuels.

Cons:

• Limited availability in rural areas and remote locations due to complex and costly infrastructure.

• Lower energy density of natural gas vs LPG means that you’ll need more natural gas to achieve the same amount of heat as LPG.

• Environmental concerns related to methane, a potent greenhouse gas significantly contributing to global warming and having a more severe ecological impact than CO₂.

Is LPG the same as natural gas? Well, no. LPG is a type of fuel primarily made up of hydrocarbons, composed mainly of propane (C₃H₈) and butane (C₄H₁₀), both of which are hydrocarbons derived from refining crude oil or processing natural gas. It’s a byproduct collected in the process of natural gas extraction and further pressurized for convenient storage. It’s also essential to understand the difference between propane and LPG since these fuels are often used interchangeably, yet they are not the same.

Pros:

• High energy content due to a higher calorific value than natural gas. As such, LPG vs NG produces more heat per unit of gas, burning hotter and faster.

• Portable and flexible storage in pressurized tanks, making it ideal for outdoor settings and mobile setups.

• Cleaner burning, emitting less CO₂ per unit of energy than oil or coal.

• Reliable off-grid energy source during power outages or in remote locations where other energy sources may not be viable.

Cons:

• Higher cost per unit of energy than natural gas, primarily due to transportation, storage, and limited supply chains in some areas.

• Storage requirements call for pressurized tanks, which add costs and can pose risks if not handled properly.

• Inconsistent supply in some areas due to delivery chain disruptions, especially in remote locations or during adverse weather.

Though both are popular energy sources, each fuel type has unique characteristics that make it more suitable for certain applications or scenarios. So, here’s a summary of major aspects to consider when each option is better for your situation.

What’s the difference between LPG and natural gas? Primarily, it’s the chemical formula. Natural gas is about 70-90% methane, while LPG is a mix of propane and butane. Both fuels require oxygen for combustion, yet oxygen-to-gas ratios for LPG vs natural gas are 25:1 vs 10:1 accordingly.

At 93.2MJ/m3, LPG has more than twice the energy content of natural gas at 38.7MJ/m3, thus producing more heat and energy with a smaller volume. As such, it’s a highly efficient choice for applications that require intense or sustained heat, like cooking or heating in colder climates.

While requiring vaporization for final use, LPG is stored in a liquid form in pressurized cylinders or LPG tanks, making it portable and ideal for locations where gas pipelines are not available. However, access to fuel, in this case, is dependent on delivery, which might be hindered by various external circumstances. Distributed through pipelines, natural gas is a more reliable energy source in urban and suburban areas with established networks.

Both LPG and natural gas are relatively clean-burning gasses. In terms of CO₂ emission, natural gas is even cleaner than LPG, oil, or coal. Yet, LPG is more eco-friendly when it comes to the overall atmospheric effect since it contains no greenhouse gasses like methane that are harmful to the environment in case of leakage.

Both gasses are odorless, so a special odorant with an unpleasant smell is added for easy leakage detection. Due to different densities, LPG is heavier than air, while natural gas is lighter. In case of leaks, LPG will accumulate at the floor level while natural gas will accumulate under the ceiling, thus potentially being safer for use in closed premises.

Generally, natural gas per-unit charge is lower than that of LPG. But if you think about a cheap option, the situation is not as straightforward as it seems. Increasing natural gas rates and peculiarities of supply entailing additional costs for network connection, daily use, etc., have recently made a traditionally more expensive LPG more affordable.

Taking into account the 2.5 times higher energy efficiency of LPG and the refill service that has become more accessible, the application of LPG might turn out almost twice cheaper than natural gas today, with no ongoing connection fees and charges in place.

If you seek an optimal energy solution for your business, you’ve come to the right place. I-Maximum is a leading LPG and SNG solution provider, offering systems that are environmentally responsible, cost-effective, and tailored to meet diverse requirements. With energy independence and autonomy in mind, we design and install scalable out-of-the-box gas systems with LPG vaporizers for industrial enterprises to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply, catch up with evolving business needs, minimize energy waste, save on energy costs, and enable companies to operate in a more sustainable manner.

Contact us today to embrace energy efficiency and get ready for an even more sustainable future.

Whether you choose LPG or natural gas depends largely on availability, cost considerations, and specific usage needs. Yet, with top-quality custom energy systems that meet your unique needs, you can get the most out of alternative energy sources and fuel your progress, benefiting from solutions designed to match the demands of today and tomorrow.