Climate change

The international scientific community considers the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change to be in progress. The greenhouse gases emitted by Snam’s operations are:

• carbon dioxide, produced in combustion processes and directly related to fuel consumption;
• methane, the main component of natural gas. Natural gas emissions are derived partly from normal plant operations and partly from maintenance works or accidental leaks.

Snam’s commitment to preventing climate change is evident in a challenging climate strategy aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. Snam's Net Zero Carbon strategy is solid and concrete and includes intermediate reduction targets of -50% by 2030 compared to 2018 values for all direct (Scope 1) and indirect energy (Scope 2) CO_2eq emissions. There are also a methane emission reduction target of -45% by 2025 and a plan to increase the use of green electricity by 2030.

The Net Carbon Zero strategy is mainly based on:

• using natural gas as an energy source supporting decarbonization path. The use of natural gas instead of oil products or coal is one of the most beneficial and feasible ways of reducing carbon dioxide emissions (CO₂) and can make a significant contribution to energy transition and to reach GHG emissions reduction target of the Country;
• Progressive replacement of gas turbines with electric compressors in the compressor stations. In this way it's possible to eliminate CO₂ combustion emissions and purchasing electric energy from renewable sources emission reset is guaranteed;
• Gas natural emissions reduction by means of continuous monitoring, the introduction of Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programme, specialised gas recovery interventions nd equipment replacement. In 2019, several interventions were carried out resulting in the recovery of 9.4 million cubic metres of natural gas (representing approximately 165,000 tonnes of CO_2eq avoided)  and various technologies were implemented to reduce natural gas emissions from the pneumatic equipment.
• using electricity from renewable sources, in 2019, Snam increased the consumption of electricity produced from renewable sources, which passed from 37% in 2018 to 44.1% in 2019, thus avoiding emissions into the atmosphere of approx. 16,100 tonnes of CO_2eq (+4,000 tonnes of CO_2eq with respect to those of 2018).
• promoting energy efficiency  through the installation of photovoltaic panels in building construction and through the activities of TEP;
• reduction of emissions related to company's buildings and the corporate fleet;
• collaboration with suppliers and associates for the containment of indirect emissions (Scope 3);
• offsetting of non-disposable emissions. The few remaining emissions will be reset with the purchase of certified carbon credits from select projects.

Additionally, the gas system could facilitate the options of decarbonisation and renewable consumption thanks to the introduction into the network of:

• renewable gases, such as bio methane, bio syngas and "green" hydrogen, obtained from anaerobic digestion and biomass gasification technologies, electrolysis of renewable electricity;
• low carbon natural gas and hydrogen, obtained from technologies that capture carbon and then store or reuse it (CCS/CCU).

Besides, Snam signed the Methane Guiding Principles, the guiding Principles that commit the company to further reduce methane emissions from the natural gas assets it operates. In signing to these principles Snam also agrees to encourage others across the natural gas value chain – from production to the final consumer – to do the same. Other signatories are: BP, Chevron, Eni, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Gazprom, Qatar Petroleum, Repsol, Shell, Total, Wintershall and Woodside.

Furthermore since novembre 2020 Snam adheres to the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0, and commits to reduce methane emissions from its activity by 45% in 2025 with respect to 2015 figures.
The OGMP is a multi-stakeholder voluntary initiative aimed at minimizing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. Managed by UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme, OGMP provides a protocol to help companies systematically and transparently manage their methane emissions from oil and gas operations and offers a credible platform to help member companies demonstrate their commitment to reduce emissions, to industry, civil society and governments.

Besides, Snam participates to Climate Disclosure Project (CDP) questionnaire, CDP beeing one of the world’s most important non-for-profit organization, which assesses companies’ transparency in the disclosure of information on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as in the management of water resources. In 2018, we entered in the A- list of the CDP.

Snam plants - Emissions Trading (at 31.12.2019)

Before the Emissions Trading regulations on climate change came into effect, Snam had already undertaken initiatives to contain emissions using high-yield technologies and natural gas as the main fossil fuel in its plants. Natural gas is used almost exclusively as fuel in the emissions trading plants.