The challenge against climate change is becoming an ever more important topic at the international level, because there is growing scientific proof that greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions affect the climate. Snam Rete Gas is engaged every day in providing our country with an energy source, natural gas, which, thanks to its chemical and physical properties and the possibility to be used in high efficiency technologies in various sectors (civil, manufacturing and thermoelectric), can make an important contribution to the reduction of GHG. Besides using natural gas as its principal fuel, Snam Rete Gas tries to minimise GHG emissions in its operating activities using specific containment programs.
The GHG emitted into the atmosphere deriving from Snam Rete Gas’s activities consist of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), the main component of natural gas. CO2 is produced during combustion and is directly correlated to the consumption of fuel, while natural gas emissions originate partly from the normal operation of plants and partly from atmosphere discharges in the transportation and distribution networks when connecting new gas pipelines, during maintenance operations or as a result of accidents.
During 2009, direct emissions of CO2 totalled about 799,400 tonnes, of which about 564,340 tonnes were caused by transportation or regasification activities (-15% from 2008), while emissions of natural gas totalled about 100 million cubic metres (equal to about 64,000 tonnes of methane). To contain the emission of natural gas, the Company continued the replacement of pneumatic equipment and the natural gas in-line operations during the laying down of new pipelines. This has allowed us to recover about 6 million cubic metres. As for the containment of natural gas emissions from the municipal distribution networks, the Company replaced about 55 km of cast-iron pipeline, involving mainly the networks in the cities of Rome and Venice.
Overall emissions of GHG were about 2.4 million tonnes, of which about 1.2 million tonnes were caused by transportation and regasification activities (-15% from 2008) This reduction can be imputed to both a reduction of energy consumption because of reduced activity and to initiatives undertaken to reduce emissions of natural gas.
During 2009, indirect emissions of CO2, caused by the purchase of electrical energy totalled about 49,190 tonnes, of which about 28,420 tonnes were caused by transportation and regasification activities, in line with the emissions last year.
Natural gas emissions were estimated using the methodology prepared by the Gas Research Institute (GRI) in collaboration with the US EPA, applied to the facilities of Snam Rete Gas, with a specific research project and campaigns of field measurements.
CO2 equivalent emissions from methane were calculated with a GWP of 25 as indicated in a scientific study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) “Fourth Assessment Report IPCC of 2007”.
Indirect CO2 emissions were calculated with a national average factor of 0.47 kg of CO2/KWh.
CO2 EMISSIONS (%)
CO2 EMISSIONS (t)
GHG EMISSIONS (%)
GHG EMISSIONS (103 t)
Emission Trading
The Snam Rete Gas installations that fall under the jurisdiction of the Emission Trading Directive as at 31 December 2009 are the 11 compressor stations (Enna, Gallese, Istrana, Malborghetto, Masera, Melizzano, Messina, Montesano, Poggio Renatico, Tarsia and Terranuova Bracciolini), the entry point terminal in Mazara del Vallo, the LNG regasification plant in Panigaglia and 7 of the 8 storage facilities (Cortemaggiore, Fiume Treste, Minerbio, Ripalta, Sabbioncello, Sergnano, Settala).
To our installations were assigned 1,001,577 annual quotas. The values assigned do not include quotas that will be assigned to “new entries”.
Concerning the installations covered by the E.T. Regulation, during 2009, we emitted 709,869 tonnes of CO2, with a positive balance for the year of 291,708 quotas.
Even before the coming into effect of the emission trading regulation on climate change, we had already undertaken initiatives for containing emissions through the use of high-efficiency technologies and by using natural gas as the main fossil fuel in our plants. In particular, in the emissions trading plants, natural gas makes up practically 100% of the fuel used. The combustion of natural gas produces 25-30% less carbon dioxide compared with petroleum products and 40-50% less compared with coal, for the same energy input (Source: National Plan for the Reduction of Emissions of Gas Responsible for the Greenhouse Effect: 2003-2010, Ministry of the Environment and for the Protection of the Territory - Ministry of Economy and Finance).
Our emissions of carbon dioxide are not constant over time but vary from year to year. They are heavily dependent on the transmission programmes of Customers, to whom we provide services of transportation, storage, distribution and regasification.