Blue gas, also known as synthetic natural gas or SNG, is a type of gas that is produced from a variety of feedstocks, including coal, biomass, and municipal solid waste. Blue gas is chemically similar to natural gas and can be used as a substitute for natural gas in a variety of applications, including heating, cooking, and electricity generation. In this article, we will explore the question of which companies make blue gas and the potential benefits and drawbacks of using blue gas as a fuel source.
What is Blue Gas?
Blue gas is a type of gas that is produced from a variety of feedstocks, including coal, biomass, and municipal solid waste. Blue gas is chemically similar to natural gas and can be used as a substitute for natural gas in a variety of applications, including heating, cooking, and electricity generation.
Blue gas is produced through a process called gasification, which involves heating the feedstock in the presence of a gasifying agent, such as oxygen or steam. This process produces a gas that is primarily composed of methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen, which can be further processed to remove impurities and increase the methane content.
Benefits of Blue Gas
There are several potential benefits to using blue gas as a fuel source. First, blue gas can be produced from a variety of feedstocks, including waste materials, which can help reduce waste and promote sustainability. In addition, blue gas is chemically similar to natural gas and can be used as a substitute for natural gas in a variety of applications.
Blue gas can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as it can be produced from renewable sources such as biomass. In addition, blue gas can be used in existing natural gas infrastructure, which can help reduce the need for new infrastructure and lower costs.
Another potential benefit of blue gas is that it can be used to produce hydrogen, which can be used as a fuel for fuel cell vehicles. This can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector and promote sustainability.
Drawbacks of Blue Gas
While there are several potential benefits to using blue gas as a fuel source, there are also some drawbacks to consider. First, the production of blue gas can be expensive, particularly when using waste materials as a feedstock. In addition, the gasification process can be energy-intensive, which can offset some of the potential environmental benefits of using blue gas.
There are also concerns about the potential environmental impacts of using blue gas, particularly when using coal as a feedstock. Coal gasification can produce significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions and can also result in the release of other pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Companies That Make Blue Gas
There are several companies that are involved in the production of blue gas. One of the largest producers of blue gas is Air Liquide, a French multinational company that produces a variety of industrial gases. Air Liquide produces blue gas from a variety of feedstocks, including coal, biomass, and municipal solid waste.
Air Liquide’s blue gas production facilities use a variety of gasification technologies, including entrained flow gasification, fluidized bed gasification, and plasma gasification. The company’s blue gas is primarily used for heating and electricity generation.
Another company that produces blue gas is Velocys, a UK-based company that specializes in the production of renewable fuels. Velocys produces blue gas from waste materials, such as forestry residues and municipal solid waste.
Velocys’ blue gas production facilities use a proprietary gasification technology called Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, which converts waste materials into a synthetic gas that is then converted into a liquid fuel or blue gas. The company’s blue gas is primarily used for heating and transportation.
Other companies that are involved in the production of blue gas include Enerkem, a Canadian company that produces biofuels from waste materials, and Waste Management, a US-based company that specializes in waste management and renewable energy.
Enerkem produces blue gas from a variety of waste materials, including municipal solid waste, construction and demolition waste, and agricultural waste. The company’s blue gas production facilities use a proprietary gasification technology called the Enerkem process, which converts waste materials into a synthetic gas that is then converted into a liquid fuel or blue gas. Enerkem’s blue gas is primarily used for transportation.
Waste Management produces blue gas from landfill gas, which is generated by the decomposition of organic waste in landfills. The company’s blue gas production facilities use a process called upgrading, which removes impurities from the landfill gas and increases the methane content. Waste Management’s blue gas is primarily used for transportation.
Conclusion
Blue gas is a type of gas that is produced from a variety of feedstocks, including coal, biomass, and municipal solid waste. Blue gas is chemically similar to natural gas and can be used as a substitute for natural gas in a variety of applications, including heating, cooking, and electricity generation.
While there are several potential benefits to using blue gas as a fuel source, there are also some drawbacks to consider, including the potential environmental impacts of using certain feedstocks. There are several companies that are involved in the production of blue gas, including Air Liquide, Velocys, Enerkem, and Waste Management.
By using blue gas as a fuel source, we can help reduce waste, promote sustainability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, it is important to carefully consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of using blue gas and to choose a feedstock that minimizes environmental impacts.