Reducing corporatescope 1 emissions on a voluntarily basiswith a focus on European biomethane and hydrogen markets

Abstract: This research project represents a collaborative effort between E&C Consultants, an international energy procurement consultancy, and aims to address the increasing demand for guidance on scope 1 emissions reduction strategies expressed by their clients. From a procurement perspective, companies are actively seeking alternative commodities, such as biomethane or hydrogen, to substitute their natural gas consumption. In response to this growing trend, multinational corporations are displaying an increased interest in voluntary emission reduction initiatives, including the Science Based Targets initiative and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Subsequently, the research project encompasses an investigation into the sustainability plans adopted by companies. Furthermore, an analysis of the European biomethane and hydrogen markets is made. Most of the information is derived from interviews conducted with diverse stakeholders, including multinational companies, energy traders, an energy supplier, a gas market expert, and a carbon removal expert. The findings of this research project indicate that multinational corporations have established robust short-term sustainability plans, yet encounter challenges in formulating long-term strategies, primarily due to legislative ambiguities and limited resources and expertise. The implementation of REPowerEU [1] is expected to significantly augment the production levels of both biomethane and hydrogen by 2030. The biomethane market is predominantly characterised by supply constraints, owing to the high demand it experiences, resulting in elevated prices. Conversely, the hydrogen market is less mature and exhibits comparatively lower demand as companies have to implement alternative technologies that are required for hydrogen adoption. Eventually, both biomethane and hydrogen possess the potential to emerge as cost-competitive alternatives to natural gas, depending upon the maturation and development of their respective markets.