What challenges are holding back the industrial adoption of solidified natural gas?

The storage and transport of natural gas in solid hydrate form, known as solidified natural gas (SNG), offers a promising alternative to conventional methods such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG). Unlike LNG, which requires cryogenic temperatures and high-pressure systems, SNG can be produced and handled under more moderate conditions. This review examines the current scientific and engineering challenges that continue to limit the industrial adoption of SNG. The underlying mechanisms of hydrate formation are analyzed, focusing on kinetic limitations, the influence of thermodynamic and kinetic additives, and the structural stability of hydrates during transport. The review also assesses the infrastructure requirements for large-scale SNG production, storage, and regasification, highlighting both recent advances and remaining bottlenecks. From an economic perspective, capital and operational costs are compared with those of established technologies, and the feasibility of SNG for different transport distances and capacities is evaluated. Environmental and safety aspects are addressed with particular attention to the impacts of chemical additives, energy use, and potential emissions. Through this critical assessment, this work identifies the key scientific, technical, and environmental factors that must be resolved to enable a transition from laboratory research to commercial-scale deployment of SNG technologies.