Propane, a safe haven fuel cheaper than natural gas – Companies
The energy crisis is forcing households to reconsider their heating methods. Among the various energy sources, little is said about propane gas. However, it is more financially profitable than natural gas, whose price has risen.
The price of natural gas is currently at a record high. gas propaneIt is a heating medium available in carboys and cisterns misunderstood, even abandoned. He, however more economical currently (which hasn’t always been the case), heating with propane gas amid rising energy prices. Propane is even considered shelter fuel by experts.
The price of propane closely follows the change in fuel oil, generally remaining slightly more expensive. At the beginning of September, its price returned to the pre-war price in Ukraine. In so-called “off-grid” homes that are not connected to the natural gas grid, current market conditions make it possible to switch to propane. Propane gas is already a well-known energy source 25% of the Belgian population.
Less polluting
Because gas tanks are rising their installation is quite easy. The cistern with a volume between 500 and 2400 liters can be buried or placed above ground in the garden. For example, the installation of an above-ground tank can cost less than €1,000, and the annual rent to the gas supplier is around €100 per year. A propane tank works with a condensing gas boiler.
what is propane
Although natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), including propane, are gaseous fuels, their chemical compositions are very different. Propane gas (LPG), as the name suggests, consists mainly of propane. Natural gas consists mainly of methane. Butane and propane are gases produced either during oil refining or during methane extraction from natural gas fields.
“Gas is the cheapest energy in Europe”
In addition, at the ecological level propane gas is less polluting. Propane is a by-product of gasoline and diesel processing—today extracted directly from gas fields—as a result with relatively low CO2 emissions but also very low particulate emissions. It is also possible to switch to biopropane in the future. The latter is extracted from waste and residues, vegetable oils or animal fats.
“Gas is the cheapest energy in Europe”, this is the slightly provocative slogan that the Kauffman company displayed during the last Batireno show in Namur. “We hear everywhere that the price of gas has increased 3 times, even 4 times, and it is true. But we never say that it is only natural gas, city gas. We specialize in propane gas, which is not the same gas. Propane is a waste oil. And its price has hardly changed since December 2021“, Tanguy Ravet boasts, advertising in Kauffman in his columns To the future.
The federal government has planned financial assistance to people who heat with propane in the form of a check for 300 euros. This check cannot be combined with an oil check.
Test Achats balanced the advantages and disadvantages of propane:
Advantages
- Very low installation costs. Propane uses the same technology as natural gas; the burner must be rated for propane only.
- Average maintenance costs.
- No need to connect to the network
Disadvantages
- The main propane tank – aerial or underground – cannot be installed anywhere. It is necessary to keep a certain distance from the house.
- You have to rent or buy this tank (sometimes with mandatory long-term contracts).
- You should take a large enough tank (+/-10% bonus) to take advantage of the more affordable supplies of 2000 liters
- Propane is generally more expensive than fuel oil
The price of natural gas is currently at a record high. Propane gas, available in cylinders and tanks, is an unrecognized, even neglected heating medium. However, nowadays (which hasn’t always been the case), with rising energy prices, it’s more economical to heat with propane gas. Propane is even considered a safe shelter fuel by experts. The price of propane closely follows the change in fuel oil, generally remaining slightly more expensive. At the beginning of September, its price returned to the pre-war price in Ukraine. In so-called “off-grid” homes that are not connected to the natural gas grid, current market conditions make it possible to switch to propane. Propane gas is already a recognized energy source for 25% of the Belgian population. Gas tanks are on the rise because they are extremely easy to install. The cistern with a volume between 500 and 2400 liters can be buried or placed above ground in the garden. For example, the installation of an above-ground tank can cost less than €1,000, and the annual rent to the gas supplier is around €100 per year. A propane tank works with a condensing gas boiler. In addition, on an environmental level, propane gas is less polluting. Propane is a by-product of gasoline and diesel processing – today it is extracted directly from gas fields – resulting in relatively low CO2 emissions but also very low particulate emissions. It is also possible to switch to biopropane in the future. The latter is extracted from waste and residues, vegetable oils or animal fats. “Gas, the cheapest energy in Europe” is a somewhat provocative slogan displayed by the Kauffman company at the last Batireno show in Namur. “Everywhere we hear that the price of gas has tripled, even quadrupled, that’s right. But we never say it’s only natural gas, city gas. We specialize in propane gas, not the same gas. Propane. is a waste of oil. And its price has remained virtually unchanged since December 2021,” boasts Tanguy Ravet, a commercial at Kauffman, in his Vers The future columns. The federal government has provided 300 euros in vouchers to people who heat themselves with propane. This check cannot be combined with an oil check.
