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China's synthetic natural gas revolution

Nature Climate Change volume 3, pages 852–854 (2013)Cite this article

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China has recently pushed for investments in large-scale coal-fuelled synthetic natural gas plants. The associated carbon emissions, water needs and wider environmental impacts are, however, mostly neglected and could lock the country into an unsustainable development path.

China is rapidly becoming the global leader in converting coal to other energy- and chemical-related products, including natural gas and methanol1. China is now building the largest synthetic natural gas (SNG; also known as substitute natural gas) industry in the world. In support of this development, Chinese studies often refer to the success of the Great Plains Synfuels Plant in the USA — the pioneer in commercializing SNG2,3,4. The commercial realization of the Great Plains Synfuels Plant is, however, not easily reproducible. Bankruptcy procedures and government subsidies covered most of the capital costs for the project and ensured the commercial viability of its operations5. In addition, the capital-intensive nature of the SNG industry created a technology lock-in effect, with short-term investment enthusiasm leading to a development path characterized by extensive environmental consequences, including increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water shortages, and air and water pollution. The case of the Great Plains Synfuels Plant should therefore be assessed from a wider perspective than just its economic viability.

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Figure 1: Comparison of lifecycle GHG emissions and water consumption in the production of SNG, coal and shale gas.
Figure 2: Cost estimates for new SNG projects in United States and China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center on Global Change, Box 90658, Duke University, Durham, 27708, North Carolina, USA

    Chi-Jen Yang & Robert B. Jackson

  2. Nicholas School of the Environment, Box 90338, Duke University, Durham, 27708, North Carolina, USA

    Robert B. Jackson

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  1. Chi-Jen Yang
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  2. Robert B. Jackson
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Correspondence to Chi-Jen Yang.

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Yang, CJ., Jackson, R. China's synthetic natural gas revolution. Nature Clim Change 3, 852–854 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1988

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