Australia’s Woodside has set new interim and long-term targets to hit net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at its Pluto liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project.
The Australian LNG developer has fixed an interim goal to abate 30% of emissions by 2030 with a long-term target to abate 100% of emissions by 2050.
Woodside said that the targets are based on the proposed expansion of Pluto LNG using gas from its Scarborough field offshore Western Australia and account for emissions associated with a two-train facility.
Woodside acting chief executive Meg O’Neill said in a statement that Woodside shared the Western Australian government’s aspiration to reduce and offset carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.
“We are pleased to have agreed these new contemporary greenhouse gas emission reduction targets with the State for Pluto LNG. The targets, which are based on the proposed expansion of the facility to enable the processing of gas from the offshore Scarborough field, demonstrate how we have applied our corporate decarbonisation targets at Pluto LNG,” said O’Neill.
“These efforts are complemented by our investment in generating high-quality offsets and potential opportunities in renewable power and hydrogen,” she said.
Woodside is currently investigating the supply of about 50 MW of solar energy to Pluto LNG from its proposed Woodside Power Project, which would result in a direct reduction in Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions from Pluto LNG, claims the Perth-based company.
Woodside operates Pluto LNG with a 90% interest on behalf of partners Kansai Electric Power Australia (5%) and Tokyo Gas Pluto (5%).
Woodside is proposing to develop the Scarborough gas resource through new offshore facilities connected by a 430 km pipeline to a proposed expansion of the existing Pluto LNG onshore facility.
Expansion includes modifications to the existing Train 1 and construction of a second gas processing train, as well as additional domestic gas infrastructure.
“Scarborough gas would primarily be processed through Train 2 and contains negligible reservoir carbon dioxide,” said Woodside.
“Combined with the adoption of best available proven technology in design, together these
developments will be amongst the lowest-carbon LNG sources globally for Woodside’s North Asian customers,” added the company.
Woodside is targeting a final investment decision (FID) for Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 in the second half 2021.