Innovative floating liquefied
natural gas solutions

What is natural gas?

Natural gas is the world’s cleanest burning hydrocarbon. It occurs naturally from decomposing animal and plant matter, and it’s made mostly of methane (CH4). It’s most-often used for heating, generating electricity, and powering industrial processes.  

When cooled to -162°C, it becomes liquefied natural gas (LNG). This clear, colorless, non-toxic liquid occupies only about 1/600th of the volume of natural gas in its gaseous form, so it’s easier to transport and store.

natural gas liquefier

What is a natural gas liquefier?

A natural gas liquefier is a facility that cools and converts natural gas into LNG (liquefied natural gas). This process involves removing water, carbon dioxide, heavy hydrocarbons, and other unwanted substances, then chilling the gas through a series of refrigeration stages. Located onshore or offshore, natural gas liquefiers allow providers such as New Fortress Energy to efficiently ship LNG to customers worldwide.

Fast LNG Unit

What is a floating liquefied natural gas facility?

A floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility transforms natural gas into LNG without ever touching land. These mobile platforms connect to offshore gas fields or pipelines, process and liquefy the gas, and store it in a Floating Storage Unit (FSU) for loading onto tankers. It’s an innovative solution that allows us to produce LNG closer to gas sources and as a result, reduce infrastructure costs.

Fast LNG graphic

What are the main differences between floating liquefied natural gas facilities and onshore natural gas liquefiers?

Floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facilities and onshore natural gas liquefiers both serve the purpose of producing LNG, each with distinct design characteristics that offer different advantages depending on the context.

  • Location: Onshore liquefiers require land development, while floating liquefied natural gas units typically operate with minimal space requirements offshore.
  • Flexibility: Floating liquefied natural gas units are mobile and can be relocated to access remote or stranded gas fields, whereas onshore facilities are permanent structures.
  • Deployment Speed: Floating liquefied natural gas platforms, particularly modular systems like the Fast LNG solution used by New Fortress Energy, can often be deployed on shorter timelines compared to traditional land-based facilities.
Fast LNG Unit

Altamira Fast LNG 1 is a floating natural gas liquefier

Altamira Fast LNG 1 is New Fortress Energy’s revolutionary floating liquefied natural gas facility located off the coast of Mexico. It represents the first-ever deployment of Fast LNG, NFE’s proprietary, modular floating liquefied natural gas solution that brings the power of liquefaction offshore.

Launched in 2021 with Mexico’s state-owned electric utility, CFE, Altamira  Fast LNG 1:

  • Receives natural gas from the Sur de Texas-Tuxpan pipeline,
  • Processes it onboard through modular gas treatment and liquefaction platforms, and transfers the LNG to a Floating Storage Unit for storage, where it can be loaded and shipped to customers across the globe.

Altamira Fast LNG 1 has made a major splash in the industry. It’s helped establish a regional floating liquefied natural gas hub that delivers cleaner, reliable, and affordable energy to Mexico and beyond. With scalable, fast-tracked liquefaction capabilities offshore, Altamira Fast LNG 1 is redefining what’s possible with natural gas.

At New Fortress Energy, we’re proud to be a pioneer in both floating liquefied natural gas and onshore natural gas liquefiers. Our ability to innovate across both systems allows us to meet energy demands flexibly and efficiently, wherever our customers need us.