Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is partnering with natural gas company CNX to covert on-airport dry natural gas into liquified natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG) and electricity.
PIT and CNX partnership will aim to utilize liquified natural gas (LNG) as a short- and mid-term solution to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation. Compared to jet fuel, LNG emits 25 to 30 percent less CO2 and 80 percent less N2O, which can greatly reduce the carbon footprint associated with aviation. LNG provides a cleaner alternative to jet fuel and has the potential to power commercial planes in the future and reduce carbon emissions in the aviation industry.
“We feel that natural gas and derivative products provide a path for the transportation industry both to reduce carbon emissions in the short-term while working toward a goal of net-zero in the long-term as hydrogen and other potential solutions mature,” said Christina Cassotis, PIT CEO. “This is Pittsburgh innovation at work. We believe this strategy can have a global impact.”
The agreement comes on the heels of an announcement earlier this week from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf about a statewide initiative to secure a hydrogen hub and large-scale carbon storage system in Pennsylvania, providing additional energy opportunities to PIT.
CNX will develop the Utica shale on airport property. The Utica shale yields a dry gas which is more easily converted into liquified natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG). CNX has developed proprietary technology to cost-effectively convert on-site dry natural gas into LNG, CNG, and electricity for various uses, including as a hydrogen feedstock.
