Energy efficiency in our operations

Mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

Energy efficiency requires a continuous process of searching for opportunities for improvement in the fields of technology, design, and operating and maintenance procedures. It has always played a part in our projects and operations, being prominent since 2006 in plans and goals to reduce the energy and carbon intensity of our operations.

¿Qué es la eficiencia energética?

Efficiency to reduce emissions

Our carbon and energy plans are permanently monitored in order to guarantee operational excellence in terms of the energy involved in our processes, which is key in reducing our carbon intensity and moving closer to our goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. In this regard, we have recently established a net zero emissions target for scope 1+2 emissions in operated assets by 2050, in line with the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter's (OGDC) commitment announced during COP28. By 2021, we had already established a target of reducing scope 1+2 emissions in operated assets by 55% by 2030 as compared to 2016. Moreover, we have surpassed our target of reducing 1.5 Mt CO₂e in the 2021–2025 plan, achieving 1.6 Mt CO₂. A new plan for 2026–2030 is currently in effect, aiming to achieve an additional reduction of 1 Mt CO₂e through electrification projects, energy integration of units, process optimization, efficient facility operation, and methane emissions reduction.

Reducing routine flaring

Flaring is a key part of both safety and environmental protection at our facilities and in the surrounding area. In 2016, we joined the World Bank's Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative, committing to find technically and economically viable solutions to minimize routine gas flaring at E&P facilities as soon as possible and no later than 2030. We have surpassed our goal of reducing CO₂e emissions from routine flaring at E&P's operated assets by 50% by 2025. The baseline was established in 2018 and we continue to work on minimizing these emissions.

Methane emissions intensity reduction

The detection, monitoring, and reduction of methane emissions throughout the natural gas chain of activity is of great importance given natural gas's role in the energy transition and methane's great potential for contributing to global warming. Upon reaching our goal of reducing methane intensity by 0.20% by 2025 at E&P's operated assets, we have established a new target of 0.10% by 2030. This value is recognized as a standard of operational excellence for the oil and gas sector by international organizations such as UNEP, which has allowed us to actively join collective commitments in this area:

Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions, an initiative of the Oil&Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), which includes the Satellite Monitoring Program. This program collects data on methane plumes with high-resolution technology and shares this information with local operators to help them identify and mitigate emission sources.
The Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), an initiative announced at COP28, which includes a commitment to achieve near-zero methane emissions by 2030. We embrace this goal on an individual basis as well.

Joining forces to reduce methane emissions and flaring

OGMP 2.0

Reporting framework of reference that will help us improve our methane reduction strategy and strengthen our collaboration with partners at non-operated assets, encouraging them to set similar objectives and to implement measurement and monitoring technologies in their assets.

World Bank Group - Zero Routine Flaring by 2030

We have joined the "Zero Routine Flaring by 2030" initiative.

OGCI

In 2023, the OGCI launched the Satellite Monitoring Campaign. This program collects data on methane emissions with high-resolution technology and shares this information with local operators to help them identify and mitigate sources of emission.

UNEP Gold Standard in methane measurement

Our adherence to OGMP 2.0 has been crucial for deploying emerging methane emissions measurement and monitoring technologies, such as drones, light aircraft, and continuous monitoring, on our operating assets, while also helping us better understand our emissions from non-operating assets. One of the unique features of OGMP is that it imposes the same requirements on both operating and non-operating assets, which is a challenge as it involves implementing these technologies on assets operated by other companies, who are not always signatories to the initiative. Since our adherence in 2020, we have carried out engagement activities with the operators of our non-operating assets to gradually achieve the same level of requirements. All of these actions strengthen our methane reduction strategy.

Year after year, we have earned the Gold Standard Pathway, which has provided a boost to our plans to advance toward the highest standards in methane emissions reporting and monitoring.

UNEP recently recognized our commitment by awarding us the OGMP Gold Standard Reporting, the highest and most demanding methane emissions reporting standard for the Oil & Gas sector, based on the implementation of new technologies across our entire asset portfolio, both operating and non-operating.

Energy efficiency projects in our facilities

Electrification of processes

Replacing steam turbines with electric motors to drive pumps and compressors boosting energy efficiency in our refining and chemicals plants.

Heat recovery

At the A Coruña refinery, a new APEX system has been installed to recover the heat from the smoke outlet that preheats its air intake and reduces fuel consumption.

Electrolyzers

We have electrolyzers in various phases of construction for H₂ generation in Bilbao, Sines (Portugal), and Cartagena.

Operational improvements in offshore

Implementing operational improvements in offshore assets stabilizes production and optimizes visualization and control over power demand.

See funded projects

Through the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative Investment Fund, we invest in solutions aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions by increasing energy efficiency.

Learn about the initiatives >

Calculating our products' carbon footprint

We analyze the carbon footprint of our products in all stages of their life cycle. The methodology that we use for the calculation is ISO 14067 based, an international standard that validates the rigor of our work. Energy efficiency projects are fundamental in reducing the carbon footprint at the stages in which we have operational control.