The mobility sector is undergoing a significant transformation as it seeks to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and transition to more sustainable energy sources. Compressed natural gas (CNG), renewable natural gas (RNG), and hydrogen are key to this shift, each playing an important role in decarbonising mobility.
CNG has established itself as a cleaner alternative to conventional fossil fuels, with a well-developed infrastructure supporting its use in countries like China, India, Pakistan and Thailand, while RNG has gained momentum due to its potential for negative emissions. In the US, the RNG industry has experienced rapid growth, with the number of production facilities increasing from 41 in 2014 to 433 in 2024, according to the RNG Coalition.
Meanwhile, hydrogen use continues to increase – and is an area of ongoing investment at Luxfer Gas Cylinders. Estimates suggest global consumption rose from 86 million tonnes in 2019 to an estimated 100 million tonnes in 2024, with emerging applications like transport contributing to the growth rate of 2-3% per year.
While hydrogen is increasingly recognised as a key component in the future of sustainable transportation due to its high energy density and ability to significantly reduce emissions, infrastructure and economic challenges mean that an intermediate step is necessary. CNG and RNG serve as critical transition fuels toward hydrogen-based transportation, offering immediate, lower-carbon solutions that leverage existing infrastructure while paving the way for hydrogen adoption.
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