Case Studies
LNG Accelerates Renewable Deployment
Can LNG and renewables co-exist? Experience from Portugal, Singapore, Brazil, Germany, and Finland suggests the answer is yes. These countries have expanded renewable energy generation while continuing to use LNG to improve energy security, replace higher-emission fuels, and provide reliable backup power when renewable resources are unavailable.
Portugal
Challenge: Portugal sought to eliminate coal-fired power generation while reducing dependence on imported pipeline gas and continuing its transition toward a low-carbon electricity system.
Solution: The country leveraged LNG imports through its Sines terminal to ensure reliable energy supplies while significantly expanding solar, wind, and hydroelectric generation.
Singapore
Challenge: Singapore has limited land availability, no domestic energy resources, and rapidly growing electricity demand driven by economic growth, transportation electrification, and data center expansion.
Solution: The country expanded LNG import capacity to ensure reliable electricity supply while accelerating solar deployment and planning for future low-carbon solutions including hydrogen, carbon capture, and regional power imports.
Outcome: Solar capacity has grown rapidly, more than doubling since 2022, while LNG continues to provide the reliable backbone of Singapore’s power system. LNG supports energy security today while enabling the country’s long-term pathway toward net-zero emissions by 2050.
Brazil
Challenge: Brazil’s electricity system relies heavily on hydropower, making power generation vulnerable to drought conditions and seasonal fluctuations.
Solution: Brazil expanded LNG import capacity through flexible FSRUs while aggressively growing solar and wind generation. LNG serves as a backup fuel when hydroelectric output declines during dry periods.
Outcome: Renewable energy now supplies approximately 88% of Brazil’s electricity generation, including hydro, wind, solar, and bioenergy. LNG has helped maintain grid reliability during periods of lower hydro output while supporting continued renewable expansion. Brazil is also exploring biomethane and other renewable gases as part of its long-term decarbonization strategy.
Germany
Challenge: Germany faces a dual challenge: rapidly reducing emissions while maintaining energy security after the loss of Russian pipeline gas supplies. At the same time, the country is phasing out nuclear power and significantly reducing coal generation.
Solution: Germany accelerated renewable energy deployment while rapidly establishing LNG import infrastructure, including floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs). LNG provided a reliable alternative fuel source and helped stabilize the power system as renewable generation expanded.
Outcome: Renewables now generate nearly half of Germany’s electricity, up dramatically from a decade ago. Coal generation has fallen sharply, nuclear power has been phased out, and LNG has helped maintain energy security during a period of unprecedented market disruption. Germany plans to repurpose LNG infrastructure for hydrogen and renewable gas imports as it moves toward its 2045 net-zero target.
Finland
Challenge: Following the loss of Russian pipeline gas supplies, Finland needed to strengthen energy security while continuing to reduce coal use and expand renewable generation.
Solution: Finland deployed new LNG import infrastructure, including a large-scale FSRU, while simultaneously investing in wind, solar, nuclear power, and future hydrogen development.
Outcome: Renewables now provide more than half of Finland’s electricity, and wind and solar capacity has grown more than fifteen-fold over the past decade. LNG has enhanced energy security and supported coal reduction efforts without slowing renewable growth. Finland remains on track toward its ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2035.