Types Of Gas

There’s several different types of gas widely available in Australia, including natural gas, LPG, butane gas and biogas. Let's explore these different types of gas in detail: 

Natural gas 

Natural gas is a widely used fuel source for many homes and businesses across Australia. Primarily composed of methane gas, it is a non-renewable fossil fuel which is extracted from underground gas reserves. The advantage of natural gas is its efficiency and clean-burning nature. It is delivered through pipelines directly to households where it is commonly used for heating water, cooking and keeping us warm in winter.  

In addition to domestic use, Australia is the seventh-largest exporter of natural gas in the world. Its export value was estimated at over $92 billion in 2022/2023. However, before natural gas can be exported, it has to be cooled down to minus 162 degrees celsius, when it turns into a liquid known as LNG, liquefied natural gas. This liquid is loaded into tankers and exported all over the world.    

LPG 

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is the liquid form of a mixture of propane and butane gas, which is produced as a by-product of the oil refining process. It is pressurised to keep it in liquid form, and then supplied under pressure in gas cylinders or tanks, often in situations where natural gas pipelines are not available. Most Aussies know LPG from their BBQ gas cylinders, but it is also used to power gas-fuelled cars. It also has many commercial uses, such as powering kilns, drying ovens and steam boilers.   

Butane 

Butane is a specific type of LPG that is used in portable devices such as small camping stoves, camping lights and lighters. It has a lower boiling point compared to propane gas, which makes it suitable for devices requiring easy vaporisation. However, this also means that in very cold situations, butane gas stoves may not work as well, which is why a small proportion of propane gas is often added to butane gas cannisters. In addition, because of its low boiling point, it’s very important not to leave butane gas lighters or cannisters in direct sunlight or in hot cars in summer. Overheating a butane gas cannister or lighter risks an explosion. 

Biogas 

Biogas is also called ‘green gas’ or ‘biomethane’ because it is gas which is captured from decomposing organic waste material. It is called green gas because it is a ‘renewable’ resource, meaning that it can be collected and bottled as long as there is decaying organic matter available. However, at a molecular level it is still methane gas, which is the same as natural gas extracted from underground. For this reason, it can safely be mixed with conventional methane natural gas. Any appliances which usually burn natural gas can also burn biogas.   

Renewable hydrogen 

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. In its normal state, hydrogen is a colourless and odourless gas, just like other flammable fuels such as natural gas, methane. For this reason, it can be used in many of the same ways as natural gas. 

However, we can produce renewable hydrogen by a process known as electrolysis. This involves using electricity to split water up into its two basic elements, hydrogen and oxygen. The electrolysis process separates the atoms of hydrogen and oxygen. They are then reformed back into water vapour when you burn the hydrogen, releasing energy as heat.  

One crucial advantage of hydrogen is that when it is burned, it only produces water vapor and heat. This makes hydrogen a clean and environmentally-friendly energy source with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are a major contributor to global warming.