Our liquid helium provides a new source, diversifying the world’s supply geographically and geopolitically.
liquid helium
Renergen is proudly emerging as a significant player in the global liquid helium (LHe) market, operating from our Virginia Gas Plant. This achievement not only establishes South Africa as one of the eight countries worldwide capable of producing liquid helium, but also highlights the importance of our endeavor.
The majority of liquid helium is sourced from natural gas fields, with helium concentration directly linked to the carbon intensity of the gas. While some producers struggle with concentrations as low as 0.04%, our wells boast concentrations exceeding 3%, with some reaching as high as 12%. This places us among the lowest carbon intensity producers globally. Our exceptional helium concentration provides us with a competitive edge, evident in our lower production costs and reduced carbon footprint compared to other sources. This advantage translates into significant value for our shareholders and customers, as illustrated in the table below.
The Properties of Helium
Why is Helium Important?
- Helium is a rare commodity
- Helium becomes economically viable to extract from natural gas at concentrations as low as 0.1%
- Of all the elements, helium is the most stable; it will not burn or react with other elements
- Helium has the lowest melting and boiling points. It exists as a gas, except under extreme conditions. At temperatures near absolute zero, helium is a fluid; most materials are solid when cooled to such low temperatures
Where do we find Helium on Earth?
- Helium is found in minute proportions in the atmosphere; less than 0.001% of the Earth’s atmosphere bleeds off into space
- Helium is a by-product of radioactive decay and is associated with natural gas
Helium Uses
Helium is a vital and irreplaceable element. It is a critical component in many fields, including scientific research, medical technology, high-tech manufacturing, space exploration, national defence, deep sea diving, welding, and particle accelerators.
Characteristics of helium
- Non-toxic
- Non-radioactive
- Odourless
- Colourless
- Low reactivity
- Inert
- Lighter than air
- Small atomic radius
- Low solubility
- Lowest boiling point of any element (-268.9˚C)
Did you know?
The helium density paradox, also known as the lambda point anomaly, is a unique and counter intuitive behavior observed in liquid helium at very low temperatures. It refers to the unexpected decrease in density of liquid helium as it is cooled below a specific temperature known as the lambda point (around 2.17 Kelvin or -270.98°C).