Season 3 episode 1 - LNG Charting Course for Energy Transition
For the first episode of our program The Roads to Carbon Neutral, we head for the United States. Gualberto Largo takes us on a tour of his daily life at the Cameron LNG liquefaction terminal.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit many different countries and see wonderful things with my own eyes. When I retire with my wife, I want to continue doing this.
I have worked in the five continents, this is really my passion.
I’ve been working for energy companies for over 40 years, the last seventeen at TotalEnergies, and have seen first-hand how the energy companies have changed.
The transition to a carbon neutral future is very exciting for me. But as society we’re not there yet. We are not yet able to depend entirely on renewable energy to power our world. At present the world still relies heavily on fossil fuels.
Here we use the oceans to deliver to different parts of the world.
I like to say we have “a local impact with a global reach”
As far as places to work, it doesn’t get much better than Cameron LNG. It’s a short drive from my home in the city, but you feel like you’re a world away. The scenery is beautiful, with bayous and amazing old oak trees. It’s full of wildlife – and sometimes alligators.
Natural gas has a key role to play in the energy transition. Actually, natural gas emits 50% less emissions than other energy like coal.
Liquefied natural gas, also known as LNG, is natural gas cooled down to a temperature of about -160°c so that it becomes a liquid The volume is reduced by 600 times compared to gas.
This allows us to transport large amounts long distances.
These ships are designed specifically to transport LNG and keep it cool. When it reaches its destination it can be regassified and used for energy.
A full LNG tanker has the capacity to power a country like France for approximately 24 hours.
With Cameron LNG located just north of the Gulf of Mexico - global gas markets are on our doorstep. TotalEnergies is currently exporting liquefied natural gas to Europe, Asia and Latin American markets –which now the demand is rising.
We’re contributing to setting an example here. Not just how we transport LNG in a way that emits less greenhouse gasses, replacing older ships with new ships which emit up to 40% less CO2, but how we produce it as well.
We are carefully monitoring any methane leaks, as this gas is much more harmful to the planet than CO2
We are looking at how technology can help us, even using drones!
We are also developing a carbon capture project. Aiming to reduce emissions and the CO2 that is around 2% of the feed gas will be removed, and the plan is to store it underground.
TotalEnergies is the largest exporter of U.S. LNG and the third largest in the world.
You can see it takes a lot of us to do it, Everyone is committed and truly cares.
We’re proving that LNG can contribute to the transition of our global energy economy towards a lower-carbon future.
One of my great joys in recent years has been working with people eager to learn and support our ambition.
Later when I retire, I will rest comfortably in the knowledge that these guys are working hard! And that’s a legacy I can be proud of.