Reducing emissions in our operations
We are working to improve the efficiency of our operations
Q. What progress are you making against your emissions reduction targets?
A. “In 2018 across BP we achieved zero net growth in operational emissions, a methane intensity of 0.2%, and 2.5Mte of sustainable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions activity since the beginning of 2016. The response from BP employees to our tangible and measurable targets has been tremendous. They are generating new ideas to reduce our emissions all the time. To help them continue this, in 2019 we announced $100m of funding for new emissions reductions projects in our upstream operations.”
Gordon Birrell, chief operating officer, production, transformation and carbon, Upstream, BP
We have set a target of 3.5 million tonnes of sustainable GHG emissions reductions by 2025. This includes actions taken by our businesses to improve energy efficiency and reduce methane emissions and flaring – all leading to permanent, quantifiable GHG reductions. We are already well on the way to meeting this target with 2.5Mte of reductions achieved since the beginning of 2016. From 2019, progress against this target will be a factor in determining bonuses for around 36,000 employees, as well as executive directors.
To ensure that as our business grows, our carbon footprint does not, we’ll offset any net increase in emissions above baseline levels that’s not covered by sustainable reductions activity out to 2025.
- See bp.com/targets for the specifics of these targets.
How we are improving the efficiency of our operations
Reducing flaring
We’ve implemented changes to the way we operate our offshore plant to significantly reduce the amount of gas we flare in Angola.
Reducing fuel consumption
We’ve introduced three liquefied natural gas carriers with more efficient engines.
Using green hydrogen
We piloted the use of green hydrogen, which is made exclusively from renewable energy sources, at our Lingen refinery in Germany.
Improving energy efficiency
We implemented opportunities to reduce energy use at several of our upstream operating sites, for example tuning pumps and gas turbines to run more efficiently.
Monitoring methane emissions
We used drone-mounted cameras to measure methane emissions from our equipment at our gas operations in the US and Oman.
Using waste heat recovery
We installed equipment to generate steam from exhaust gas at our Whiting refinery in the US. This reduces the amount of steam generated from our boilers, which in turn reduces the amount of fuel burned and associated GHGs.
Reducing carbon emissions
We replaced gas turbines that drive compressors with ones powered by electricity at our production facility in Prudhoe Bay in the US.