SUMMARY

The initiative will allow companies to demonstrate their cuts to emissions “in a consistent, credible and transparent way,” GTI said.

By Gas Pathways

US-based GTI has launched a new initiative for measuring and verifying gas companies’ reductions in their methane emissions, the company said on September 24.

The initiative, known as Veritas, involves scientists, academics, environmental organisations, certification organisations and industry participants, GTI said. It aims to help companies to demonstrate the reductions they have achieved “in a consistent, credible and transparent way.”

GTI expects robust demand for low-carbon gas in the decades to come, its vice president for strategy and innovation, Paula Grant, said in a statement.

“We also see lowering methane emissions as imperative for enabling the vital role that natural gas will serve in low-carbon energy systems. GTI and our partners are committed to accelerating actions that reduce methane leakages from every segment of natural gas systems,” she said. “Establishing a measurement-informed and transparently-developed standard that all stakeholders can rely upon will increase confidence that those actions are reducing methane emissions – and channel energy into accelerating actions that are most effective.”

Veritas includes a methane intensity protocol, which defines methane intensities for each segment of the gas supply chain; a measurement protocol, which will describe how to take measurements to inform emission inventories, by segment; a reconciliation protocol, which will reconcile emissions factor inventory with actual measurements, by segment; a supply chain summation protocol, which will sum up multiple segments for a supply chain methane emissions intensity; and an audit and assurance protocol, which will provide guidance for verifying an emissions inventory and for third-party auditing.

The initiative’s sponsors, leaders, and supporters include Devon Energy, EQT Corp, Ernst & Young LLP (EY US), Jonah Energy LLC, ONE Future, RMI, Sempra Energy, Southern Company, and Williams.