In the present paper, life cycle analysis of coal-based synthetic natural gas (SNG) is performed for heat supply and electricity generation in China with a full consideration of energy efficiency, environmental pollutions and greenhouse gas emissions. Several different technical routes of SNG are studied in detail and the emissions of SO2, NORx, CO2 and energy efficiency are all calculated. For comparisons, technical routes of ultra supercritical and coal-fired power generations are also analyzed together with a direct use of coal for heat supply. Our results show that the cogeneration of heat and electricity is a suitable technical route for SNG utilization. Comparing with ultra-supercritical and coal-fired power generations, technical routes based on SNG could significantly reduce the emissions of pollutants (especially for heat supply) with an acceptable level of the energy efficiency. After synthesis of SNG, our life cycle analysis suggests that SNG should be transported to the energy demand center for further power generation locally. (C) 2017 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.