CNG COMPRESSORS MARKET ANALYSIS

The CNG compressors market size is expected to reach US$ 5.15 Bn by 2030, from US$ 3.79 Bn in 2023, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% during the forecast period.

CNG compressors are mechanical devices that are used to pressurize natural gas to the optimum pressure levels for efficient storage and transportation as compressed natural gas (CNG). CNG is used for vehicles like buses, trucks, taxis, and personal cars. CNG compressors enable fast and reliable refueling at CNG stations for natural gas vehicles. The key drivers of the CNG compressors market include increasing adoption of natural gas vehicles, expansion of CNG refueling infrastructure, and stringent emission control regulations.

The CNG compressors market is segmented into  type, lubrication method, and end user. By type, the market is segmented into reciprocating compressors, rotary screw compressors, rotary centrifugal compressors, and other types. Reciprocating compressors account for the largest market share as they provide suitability for small to medium flow capacity applications in CNG stations involving multiple short frequent refueling events.

CNG Compressors Market Regional Insights

• North America: North America is expected to be the largest market for CNG compressors market during the forecast period, accounting for over 38% of the market share in 2023. The market growth in North America is due  to shale gas availability and growing adoption of NGVs (Natural Gas for Vehicles) like transit buses and waste collection trucks.
• Asia Pacific: The Asia Pacific market is expected to be the second-largest market for CNG compressors market, accounting for over 32% of the market share in 2023. The market growth in Asia Pacific countries (APAC) is due to large vehicle population and government initiatives to expand CNG infrastructure.
• Europe: The Europe market is expected to be the fastest-growing market for CNG compressors market, with a CAGR of over 9% during the forecast period. The market growth in Europe is due to emission reduction targets and incentive schemes for purchasing NGVs.

Figure 1. CNG Compressors Market Share (%), By Region, 2023

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CNG Compressor Market: Analyst’s Viewpoint

The CNG compressor market is expected to witness steady growth in the near future. Major drivers of growth include stricter emission norms which are increasing adoption of natural gas vehicles globally. Asia Pacific region dominated the market in the past and is projected to remain the fastest growing regional market due to large fleet of CNG vehicles in countries like India and China. The replacement of aging CNG station compressors also provides opportunities for new unit sales. However, high initial costs of CNG vehicles and refueling infrastructure act as a restraint on the market's growth. Adoption rates vary between regions which are based on the cost of natural gas, relative to gasoline or diesel in each market. Subsidies and tax rebates on CNG vehicles and fuel can help boost demand but budgetary constraints may limit governments' ability to continue such programs indefinitely.

Established market players with strong service networks will be well positioned to capture replacement and aftermarket sales. New product development focusing on efficiency improvements and cost reductions could help manufacturers gain market share. However, intellectual property risks in developing markets pose challenges. Market consolidation may occur as smaller regional players face difficulty in managing costs from tightening emission standards. Ongoing deployment of vehicle fuel cells and electric drivetrains for commercial fleets also presents a long-term threat to demand for CNG compressors.

 CNG Compressors Market Drivers

• Increasing demand for natural gas as a clean fuel: Natural gas is being increasingly adopted as a cleaner alternative to diesel and gasoline around the world. As natural gas emits significantly lower levels of greenhouse gases and pollutants as compared to other fossil fuels, many countries are encouraging its use in transportation. This is evident from India’s initiative of building the world’s largest pipeline network for city gas distribution. Till 2021, India has over 30,000 kilometers of pipelines laid to supply CNG to vehicles and piped natural gas to household kitchens in over 406 districts nationwide. This expanding network is driving significant demand for CNG compressors that are used at gas stations to refuel vehicles.

The push for cleaner fuels is expected to continue in the near future. The European Union has proposed policies to expand natural gas refueling infrastructure across major roads and ports by 2025. According to the EU’s (European Union) 2021 annual work program, this move aims to reduce transport emissions by at least 55% from 1990 levels by 2030. Similarly, China introduced tax incentives and subsidies in 2020 to promote the use of natural gas-powered trucks and buses in several of its major cities and economic zones. With more regions around the world adopting policies promoting natural gas for transport, the need for reliable and efficient CNG compressors is likely to grow substantially.

This consistent and growing demand for natural gas in the transportation sector is anticipated to create sustained momentum for the global CNG compressor market in the next forecast years. The key players are innovating compressor designs to optimize performance for refueling heavy vehicles as well. For example, manufacturers are developing compact multi-stage units that are capable of high-pressure refueling of buses and trucks. Such technological advancements are expected to further increase the adoption of CNG technology among fleet operators.

• Stringent emission norms: Stringent emission norms implemented by various governments across the globe are expected to drive significant growth in the CNG compressor market. Countries are gradually shifting towards cleaner fuels and technologies to reduce emissions and curb environmental pollution. Natural gas emits less carbon and particulate matter as compared to gasoline and diesel, thus making CNG a viable alternative for automobiles.

Several nations have introduced BS-VI and Euro-VI emission standards policies for vehicles in the recent past. This mandates deeper cuts in emissions from new vehicles. As a result, many automakers are focusing on CNG variants of their vehicles to comply with these stringent norms. For instance, the Government of India implemented BS-VI standards from April 2020 across the country. This has led to increased demand for factory-fitted CNG kits as well as retrofit kits.

According to data published on the Hindu business line, prime minister Mr. Narendra Modi unveiled plans to significantly increase the proportion of natural gas in India’s mix of energy sources. He emphasized the need to diversify the country’s energy supply and integrate the national infrastructure through a comprehensive gas pipeline network. The development of 16,000 kilometers of fresh gas pipeline infrastructure is underway and is expected to reach completion within the next 5 to 6 years. This expansion is set to offer access to cost-effective fuel to numerous citizens and key industrial sectors, alongside paving the way for the establishment of approximately 700 new CNG stations.

• Preference over gasoline and diesel: Natural gas is increasingly being preferred as a greener and more economical alternative to traditional gasoline and diesel fuels. With volatile crude oil prices, natural gas provides relative price stability for running automotive engines. The global abundance of shale gas and expanding production capacities has also helped natural gas cement its position as a viable alternative fuel. CNG offers comparable power, torque, and cruising range to gasoline engines at a lower running cost. The pricing dynamics tilt favorably towards natural gas as governments also promote NGVs by way of tax incentives. The lower total cost of ownership is thus driving adoption of CNG vehicles. For instance, in the U.S. around 40% of new garbage trucks run on CNG. Transit and school buses are also transitioning to natural gas as fuel. This transition will drive the need for more CNG fueling infrastructure and compressors. Service providers are also targeting fleet owners to convert their fleets to NGVs or dual fuel systems. The economics and abundance of natural gas make it an attractive automotive fuel globally. This will continue to provide growth opportunities to CNG compressors market over the forecast decade.
• Supportive government initiatives: Many governments especially across Asia, North America, Latin America, and Europe are undertaking initiatives to develop natural gas infrastructure and promote use of natural gas vehicles. Under India's City Gas Distribution (CGD) initiative, the government aims to expand CNG infrastructure to cover 70% of the population. The impetus on NGVs is also visible in target setting for automakers whereby a certain fraction of their portfolio must be NGVs. The alternative fuel vehicle credit in the U.S. provides tax incentives for purchasing NGVs and setting up refueling equipment. 25C tax credit per gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE)  of CNG is extended as incentive. There are also preferential policies on parking and tolls in cities like London and Berlin for NGVs.

CNG Compressors Market Opportunities

• Shale gas boom across North America: The shale gas boom across North America has unleashed a significant amount of natural gas reserves that were previously trapped within tight rock formations. As shale gas extraction continues to grow dramatically, the underlying natural gas compressor market is expected to benefit tremendously. Natural gas which is also known as compressed natural gas (CNG) provides a cleaner and more efficient alternative to diesel and gasoline fuels. With vast quantities of newly accessible shale gas reserves, demand for CNG vehicles and infrastructure is projected to increase steadily in the near future. As more shale gas fields come online and natural gas production expands throughout states like Pennsylvania, Texas, and North Dakota, transportation and storage of this resource will require robust compression capabilities. Natural gas compressors are essential equipment that helps raise the pressure of gas from the wellhead and facilitates its safe movement through transmission and distribution pipelines over long distances. The surge in shale gas extraction, made possible by the ongoing shale gas revolution, is leading exploration and production companies to increasingly acquire natural gas compression assets. Leading operators are making sizable investments in multi-stage compressor stations and networks to efficiently harness shale gas resources.
• Development of small scale LNG (Liquefied Natural gas) infrastructure: While CNG addresses natural gas use for vehicles with city and regional movement, LNG is being targeted as the fuel for long haul trucks. LNG provides higher energy density and thus larger operational range thus making it suitable for heavy duty trucks. The liquefaction process enables optimized storage and transportation of natural gas as well. Building large centralized LNG terminals requires substantial investments, thus the focus has shifted to small scale liquefaction plants. For instance, in 2023, state-owned GAIL (Gas Authority Of India Ltd.) announced plans to establish compact LNG filling facilities, with India's leading gas corporation looking to capitalize on the expanding market for the fuel, especially within the heavy-duty, long-distance transportation segment. These mini LNG facilities located close to natural gas pipelines can serve as hubs for LNG distribution to truck terminals and direct fleet refueling. It requires just 20% of the capital costs incurred for large terminals. The small scale plants also help optimize logistics and development of LNG refueling points along key trucking routes. This decentralized approach for encouraging LNG infrastructure provides a shot in the arm for natural gas demand as trucking fuel. It will drive adoption of gas compressors as LNG needs to be degasified before being dispensed to vehicles. As small scale LNG plans proliferate globally, it provides an excellent revenue stream for CNG compressor manufacturers.
• Leveraging biogas potential through upgrading: Biogas produced from organic waste streams like agricultural residue, distillery wastewater, or municipal waste provides a renewable source of methane. Biomethane can be produced by removing impurities like CO2 (Carbon dioxide) and H2S (Hydrogen sulfide) from biogas in a process called biogas upgrading. The resulting biomethane has properties similar to natural gas and hence can directly substitute it as a transportation fuel. Biomethane usage also provides additional environmental benefits related to waste management and reduction in GHG (Greenhouse gases) emissions. Many European countries like Germany, Sweden, and France have formulated policies to actively promote biogas and biomethane production. The gas distribution infrastructure has also been upgraded in parts of Europe to handle injection of renewable biomethane. As much as the biomethane produced in Europe is used as transportation fuel. Biogas upgrading plants require gas compressors for compression of raw biogas feed as well as pressurization of biomethane output. There is potential for CNG compressor manufacturers to consolidate their share in the biogas value chain. Gradual expansion of  biogas production and upgrading industry provides an additional growth avenue for compressors on top of conventional natural gas demand.
• Integration of internet of things and industry 4.0: CNG compressors are mission critical elements of refueling infrastructure requiring high uptime and reliability. Unplanned outages or suboptimal performance has substantial cost implications. This has led manufacturers to integrate IoT and data analytics into compressor systems for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. Sensors track key parameters like vibration, temperature, and flow in real-time. Cloud connectivity enables data transmission for diagnostics using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) are increasingly offering such smart compressors with compression-as-a-service business model rather than just selling the asset. Compressor performance data coupled with operator inputs helps predictive analysis that forecasts maintenance needs. Overhaul planning, thus becomes driven by actual condition rather than arbitrary time-based schedules. Such digitalization solutions unlock significant potential for optimizing efficiency and minimizing downtime. This opens up opportunities for aftermarket services and long term revenue streams via performance based contracts for OEMs. With industry 4.0 wave accelerating, smart compressors present an important evolution opportunity.

CNG Compressors Market Trends

• High pressure compressor systems: Conventional CNG refueling stations operate compressors at 250 to 350 bar pressure levels. But with advancement in composite storage cylinders, onboard storage pressure in vehicles has increased. OEMs are deploying type IV cylinders that are capable of 500 bar storage pressure. High pressure storage enables faster refueling and increases onboard CNG capacity. This has led to demand for higher capacity compressors that can support fast fill applications. Manufacturers are developing compressor systems that are designed for stable 500 bar fast fill compressed natural gas (FF-CNG) dispensing. The higher flow capacity cuts down refueling time to achieve par with liquid fuels. Some of these ultra-high pressure units also feature advanced connectivity and automation features. Adoption of such high pressure compressors aligns the CNG refueling experience closer to conventional fuels. This can help address consumer perception issues regarding refueling time for CNG vehicles. The trend of developing FF-CNG solutions will accelerate with more natural gas vehicles adopting high pressure cylinders.
• Oil-free and magnetic bearing compressors: Conventional lubricated compressors used in gas refueling applications pose contamination risks from oil carryover. This necessitates additional investment in specialized filters to remove oil aerosols from the CNG stream. Oil-free compressors eliminate this capital intensive filtration need while also providing reliability benefits. Magnetic bearings present another enhancement opportunity replacing maintenance intensive mechanical bearings. Magnetic bearings employ magnetic levitation that avoids metal-to-metal contact seen in traditional bearings. It eliminates need for lubrication while also enabling high speed operation. The inexhaustible life of magnetic bearings results in drastic reduction in downtime costs. Compressor manufacturers are increasingly deploying these technologies in their portfolio to better serve the exacting demands of gas refueling infrastructures. Oil-free and magnetic bearing compressors will be an integral part of next-gen refueling stations.
• Emergence of hydrogen-natural gas blends: As the hydrogen economy gains traction, blending hydrogen in natural gas pipelines is witnessed as a transition strategy. Blending low fractions of hydrogen (5-20%) with natural gas is a safe and pragmatic starting point for introducing hydrogen. This can accelerate clean hydrogen utilization until dedicated hydrogen infrastructure develops. Gas utilities in Europe and North America are piloting hydrogen-natural gas blends for establishing technical feasibility. The blended fuels can then directly use the existing natural gas infrastructure including storage, pipelines, and refueling stations. This prevents the need for immediate and massive investment into full-fledged hydrogen value chain. However, the impact of hydrogen blending on the durability and performance of compressors needs to be evaluated. This opens up a research and development (R&D) opportunity for CNG compressor firms. The gradual move to hydrogen-natural gas blends will emerge as a notable trend in the near future.
• Development of game changing technologies: While positive displacement and dynamic compressors dominate the landscape, research efforts are ongoing on potential step change technologies. For instance, electrochemical compression employs a hydrogen pump that pressurizes gas without moving parts. It combines an electrolyzer with a fuel cell in the same enclosure, thus enabling high pressure gas output. Such revolutionary concepts can help overcome reliability challenges and high compression costs. Researchers are also working on trying to separate methane from natural gas without mechanical compression. This relies on complex materials like metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that exploit unique molecular sieving behavior. While such innovations have only been demonstrated at laboratory scale, the potential exists for radically advancing the state of the art. CNG compressor incumbents are ramping up their R&D budgets to tap into such promising concepts that could disrupt status quo in the long term. But in the short to medium term, existing technologies still present abundant growth run way.

CNG Compressors Market Restraints

• High compression costs: The gas compression process for CNG applications requires large, high-powered motors, and robust industrial grade compressors. This entails considerable upfront capital expenditure which is a barrier for wider CNG infrastructure proliferation. The power consumption of these compressors running the whole day is also substantial and is adding up to operating costs.
• Lack of standardization: There is a high degree of fragmentation witnessed across geographies in terms of governing specifications for CNG fueling stations. Countries follow different standards regarding gas composition, fuel quality parameters, flow meter accuracy, storage tank design, and others. Even pressure rating within regions like Asia pacific (APAC) vary widely from 250 bar to 500 bar limiting interoperability.
• Emergence of battery powered electric vehicles: Battery technology innovation has enabled wider adoption of electric vehicles globally. Many governments are also setting aggressive e-mobility targets and promoting EVs through financial incentives. EVs provide certain consumer benefits like acceleration, low maintenance, and convenience of home charging. The perception of EVs aligning more closely with sustainability goals has also aided their cause.

Counterbalance: The CNG compressor should ensure better and more convenient consumer benefits as provided by the electric vehicles (EVs) to be in the competition.

Figure 2. CNG Compressors Market Share (%), By Type, 2023

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Recent Developments:

New product launches

• (WO) – INNIO* Group designs and manufactures gas engines and cogeneration modules and Detechtion Technologies is a leader in real-time asset performance management solutions for Energy companies, together released the first release of the SKIDIQ product suite, in September 2023, a innovative digital solution for natural gas compressor operators and lease compression companies. The cloud-based platform provides unparalleled user advantages by merging INNIO’s Waukesha* engine analytics with Detechtion’s real-time compressor monitoring and optimization technology.
• Sapphire Gas Solutions ("Sapphire") is a turnkey infrastructure services and equipment provider and Bauer Compressors, Inc. ("Bauer") manufactures a broad range of compressor systems for various breathing-air and industrial applications, announced a national partnership between the two leading companies, in March 2023. Through this partnership, Sapphire Gas Solutions ("Sapphire") to maintain, deploy, and construct an array of state-of-the-art Bauer Compressors, Inc. ("Bauer") manufactured gas compressors and offer OEM parts servicing various critical industries covering Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America.
• Southern Star has utilized several Cooper units to deliver safe, reliable and efficient natural gas transportation, announced a partnership with Cooper Machinery Services, global leader in the supply of after-sale services & new compression for the world's engine and compressor markets, in October 2021, to evaluate the potential of hydrogen blended fuels to power its reciprocating compression systems.

Acquisition and partnerships

• In November 2022, Baker Hughes, an energy technology firm, and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) entered into a strategic technology collaboration agreement at ADIPEC 2022. The agreement aims to investigate opportunities for collaboration in research and development (R&D) to advance technologies that contribute in fostering a sustainable energy future in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• In August 2021, Hanwha Solutions  is a multinational energy services, petrochemical, and real estate development company, revealed that Hanwha Cimarron, the tank manufacturing company, entered into an agreement with Sunbridge Energy Services, an energy firm based in Texas, U.S. The arrangement involves the provision of storage tanks that is specifically designed for compressed natural gas (CNG).
• In April 2021, Galileo Technologies offer customized solutions, revealed the establishment of Galileo Compression USA, a technology-driven business division in the U.S., emphasizing high value-added solutions. Galileo Compression, a prominent global compression manufacturer and service provider, boasts more than three decades of international experience.

Top Companies in CNG Compressors Market:

• Atlas Copco
• Ariel Corporation
• Siemens Energy
• Galileo Technologies
• Bauer Compressors
• Ingersoll Rand
• ANGI Energy Systems
• Clean Energy Compression
• CIMC Enric Holdings Limited
•  J W Energy Company
• Elliott Company
• C&B Pumps and Compressor LLC
• GE Oil & Gas
• Associated Compressor Engineers

Definition: The CNG compressors market refers to the industry and ecosystem around equipment that compresses natural gas to high pressures for efficient storage and transportation as compressed natural gas (CNG). CNG is used as a clean automotive fuel alternative to gasoline and diesel, especially for buses, taxis, trucks, pickups, and personal cars in cities. CNG compressors are mechanical devices installed at natural gas vehicle refueling stations and terminals to pressurize natural gas to optimal levels (3000 to 3600 psi) for dispensing into vehicle fuel cylinders. Major types of compressors that are used are reciprocating, rotary screw, rotary centrifugal, and others. The key companies involved, manufacture compressors that are tailored to meet the flow rate, pressure rating, and reliability demands of CNG applications.