Suncor reduced its air emissions by 36% since setting a goal of 10% in 2009
CALGARY, Alta. – Suncor Energy has announced the release of its 2016 Report on Sustainability which includes new long-term sustainability goals addressing climate change that will reduce “total emission intensity” of its crude oil by 30 per cent by 2030.
“These areas of focus are important to the sustainability of our company, our communities, and our country,” said Steve Williams, president and chief executive officer.
The long-term goals of Suncor recognize the global challenge to tackle climate change head on by reducing emissions, while providing energy the world needs.
Suncor says it will work to harness technology and innovation to set them on a transformational pathway to a low carbon energy system.
“The way the world views energy development has fundamentally changed. Sustainability goals drive us far beyond our current capabilities, setting our ambition to be globally cost and carbon competitive, while meeting the energy needs in Canada and around the world,” said Williams.
Suncor said in a press release it will be reducing the total emission intensity of the production of its oil and petroleum products by 30 per cent by 2030, through focused efforts in the following areas:
• continue to drive energy efficiency at all facilities, and where opportunities exist, switch to lower-carbon fuels such as natural gas;
• develop and pilot technology to fundamentally change how we extract bitumen and optimize downstream processing; and
• participate in greening the electricity grid towards a lower-carbon future by investing in cogeneration at our facilities and renewable energy.
“I believe in climate change and that the production and consumption of fossil fuels is contributing to this pressing global challenge,” said Williams. “I also believe we all have the opportunity – and responsibility – to collaborate on effective solutions.”
In 2009, Suncor set an industry precedent by adopting a series of strategic environmental performance goals on water consumption, reclamation of disturbed lands, energy efficiency and air emissions for completion by the end of 2015. Suncor met three of four of these goals:
• Water: Reduced fresh water consumption by 27 per cent, surpassing goal to reduce consumption by 12 per cent.
• Land: Increased reclamation of disturbed land by 176 per cent, surpassing goal to increase reclamation by 100 per cent. By 2015, they reclaimed 3,730 hectares of disturbed lands.
• Energy intensity: Improved energy efficiency by 9 per cent, reaching an overall energy intensity of 5.06 GJ/m3, coming within 1 per cent of achieving goal. Suncor’s new GHG goal will help them continue to reduce energy use in our operations.
• Air: Reduced air emissions by 36 per cent, significantly surpassing goal to reduce emissions by 10 per cent.