KN Energies to launch virtual biomethane liquefaction at Klaipėda
A virtual liquefaction model can offer bunker sellers the flexibility to tap into the LBM market without relying on centralised LNG infrastructure.
IMAGE: Aerial view of Lithuania's Port of Klaipeda. X of @portofklaipeda1
Terminal operator KN Energies plans to launch a "virtual" biomethane liquefaction service at its Klaipėda LNG terminal in Lithuania by September this year after completing certification and other preparatory steps.
Decentralising the LBM supply chain
“This model offers a flexible and efficient solution relevant to both Lithuanian and international market participants seeking sustainable fuel alternatives,” KN Energies said.
The flexibility stems from its decentralised structure.
The model can allow LNG terminals to take biomethane already injected into the European gas grid and liquefy an equivalent volume for on-site liquification and subsequent exports as liquefied biomethane (LBM).
Biomethane can be injected into the gas grid from various locations across Europe, typically using a mass-balance method to track the share of renewable gas within the overall grid mix. This approach can allow biomethane producers to access Klaipėda’s infrastructure without physically transporting the molecules to the site.
Bunker suppliers can source this mass-balanced LBM without being limited by proximity to local supply or infrastructure access.
“This service will enable biomethane producers and suppliers to efficiently integrate their operations into the LNG logistics chain and monetize gases produced in Lithuania and across Europe that are injected into the common European gas grid,” the company added.
In theory, the model replicates the function of full-scale liquefaction without the capital intensity of large LNG facilities, making it particularly suited for early-stage adoption in remote regions or emerging markets with limited access.
KN Energies noted that only a handful of Europe’s 28 LNG terminal operators currently offer this service.
By Konica Bhatt
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