New Drawdown Compressor Technology Allows Gas Distribution Utilities to Avoid Venting Natural Gas
Natural gas utilities around the globe are under increasing pressure to reduce methane emissions from their natural gas infrastructure. In 2019, New York State passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) in a nation-leading effort to fight climate change to see an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. On a Federal level, the U.S. committed today also reduce its GHG emissions to 50%-52% below its 2005 emissions levels by 2030 and set the U.S. economy to net zero by 2050.
Even before being mandated to reduce emissions, many natural gas utilities are voluntarily taking actions to be greener. National Grid announced a bold target in 2019 to reduce their own direct greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and just last month National Fuel Gas outlined a pathway to reach a 90% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050.
“The ULC Drawdown Compressor allows gas distribution utilities across the globe transform the way they maintain and operate their infrastructure while meeting their environmental and emissions reduction goals,” says Nathan King, Director of Marketing at ULC Technologies. “Natural gas can become stranded in a section of pipe, leaving gas utilities with few options on what to do with that natural gas. This innovative product allows gas utilities to take that stranded gas and put in back into the active pipeline network—avoiding the need to vent to atmosphere.”
Two key emissions reduction strategies being implemented by gas utilities are pipeline replacement and gas main modernization programs. Replacement of cast iron and bare steel gas mains has been helping reduce leakage and create a more reliable, PE based gas distribution network. The ULC Drawdown Compressor supports these programs by enabling gas utilities the ability to extract the natural gas prior to abandoning older infrastructure.
“In addition to supporting pipeline replacement programs, the Drawdown Compressor has applications for a wide range of gas operations and maintenance activities,” says Nathan King. “ULC has been working with two leading Natural Gas LDCs to pilot the Drawdown Compressor over the past two years. The solution has performed well on small volume projects as well as large volume projects, which is why our utility partners are already calling it a one-stop-shop tool in their effort to meet emissions reduction goals. Plus, it runs off natural gas from the active gas main, so there is no need for external air compressors, and it never runs out of fuel.”
Contact our team today to discuss our Drawdown Compressor technology or to schedule a demonstration.
