Virtual Pipeline Market Report 2025

This report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The virtual pipeline market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.7 billion in 2024 to $1.81 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in demand for natural gas, increased remote energy access, increased energy security concerns, increased focus on cost-effective energy distribution solutions, and rise in awareness about the benefits of natural gas.

The virtual pipeline market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.31 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing urbanization, expansion of industrial sectors, increasing renewable energy integration, increasing investments in energy infrastructure, growing emphasis on reducing carbon emissions. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion into new markets, technological advancements, integration with renewable energy, regulatory support and standards, partnerships and collaborations, focus on safety and environmental compliance, demand from remote and off-grid markets, economic viability and cost competitiveness, and focus on sustainability.

The growing demand for natural gas is poised to drive the expansion of the virtual pipeline market in the coming years. Natural gas, primarily composed of methane and sourced from underground reserves, serves as a versatile fuel for heating, electricity generation, cooking, and transportation. Its increasing demand stems from its reputation as a cleaner-burning fossil fuel, its adaptability across various industries including power generation and heating, and its potential as a transitional energy source in the global shift towards lower-carbon alternatives. Virtual pipelines play a crucial role in transporting natural gas, particularly in regions where conventional pipeline infrastructure is inadequate, economically unfeasible, or non-existent to meet escalating demand. For example, as per a report from the Energy Information Administration in March 2023, the United States experienced a record-breaking daily natural gas consumption of 88.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2022, marking a 5% increase from the previous year, with daily consumption reaching 4.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf/d). Additionally, US end-user sectors consumed 38% of the total natural gas supply in 2022. Consequently, the rising demand for natural gas is propelling the growth of the virtual pipeline market.

Leading companies in the virtual pipeline market are investing in technology and collaborating with energy firms to develop natural gas and hydrogen transport solutions, such as virtual pipeline trailers, to meet the growing energy demands in remote and industrial regions. Virtual pipeline trailers are specialized units used to transport compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) between locations, typically where traditional pipeline infrastructure is either unavailable or impractical. For example, in May 2022, Quantum Fuel Systems LLC, a US-based integrated alternative energy company, secured a major contract with Certarus Ltd., a Canada-based green energy supplier, to supply virtual pipeline trailers for natural gas transport. Certarus placed an additional order for Quantum’s VPLite45/40’ trailers, set to be delivered in the third and fourth quarters of 2022. These trailers offer a gaseous capacity of around 472,000 standard cubic feet and a fully loaded weight of under 59,000 pounds. Certified for use in both the U.S. and Canada, the VPLite45/40’ trailer is the top choice in the industry for customers who need a smaller, lighter trailer with excellent maneuverability in tight spaces while still offering the highest gas capacity in a 40-foot container.

In May 2023, Superior Plus Corp. acquired Certarus Ltd. for an undisclosed sum, aiming to position itself as a distributor of low-carbon renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen. Certarus Ltd., known for its virtual pipeline solutions for natural gas, renewable natural gas (RNG), and hydrogen, enhances Superior Plus Corp.'s capabilities in the energy sector, aligning with the growing demand for cleaner energy alternatives.

Major companies operating in the virtual pipeline market report are Eni S.p.A.; National Petroleum Limited (Petronas); General Electric Company; Compass Natural Gas Partners LP (CNGP); Baker Hughes Company; Kinder Morgan Inc.; Wärtsilä Corporation; Snam S.p.A.; LightSail Energy Inc.; Hexagon Composites ASA; Broadwind Inc.; Pentagon Energy LLC; Certarus Ltd.; SENER Grupo de Ingeniería S.A.; Stabilis Solutions Inc.; FIBA Technologies Inc.; Galileo Technologies S.A.; Gas Malaysia Berhad; NG Advantage LLC; Cobey Inc.; REV LNG LLC; OsComp Systems Inc.; CNG Services Limited; Xpress Natural Gas LLC; Marlin Gas Services Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the virtual pipeline market in 2024. It is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the virtual pipeline market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the virtual pipeline market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The virtual pipeline market consists of revenues earned by entities by natural gas transportation, distribution, logistics, and field gas processing and treating. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The virtual pipeline market also includes sales of compression facilities, storage tanks, transportation containers, safety equipment, and monitoring devices. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

A virtual pipeline is a system or approach used to transport goods, typically energy resources like natural gas, without the use of conventional physical pipeline infrastructure. Rather than depending on fixed pipelines, virtual pipelines employ different transport methods, such as trucks or ships, to move compressed or liquefied gas to end-users or storage locations.

The primary fuel types utilized within virtual pipelines include compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and others. Compressed natural gas (CNG) refers to natural gas stored at high pressure, enabling compact transportation and storage. Widely recognized as a cleaner alternative fuel, CNG finds applications in vehicle propulsion, heating, and cooking. Various transportation modes such as trucks, barges, railways, and ships are employed within virtual pipelines to cater to diverse end uses including commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors.

The virtual pipeline market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides virtual pipeline market statistics, including virtual pipeline industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a virtual pipeline market share, detailed virtual pipeline market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the virtual pipeline industry. This virtual pipeline market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

This product will be delivered within 3-5 business days.