Press release

Groningen, 31 October 2024 - Gasunie presented its new Climate Action Plan today. This plan is a transparent summary of everything that Gasunie is doing to combat global warming and protect its assets against the impact of this heating up of the Earth’s surface. The Climate Action Plan builds on the first climate plan of July 2023, painting a clearer picture of all efforts launched and results achieved thus far.

In its Climate Action Plan, Gasunie sets the ambition to cease to be a net contributor to global warming by 2045. To make this happen, the company is taking action in 28 different ways to cut its scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Despite various challenges that are causing its emissions to rise, such as changing gas flows in Europe due to the Russian war in Ukraine, Gasunie is determined to achieve its reduction targets. The company is on track to reduce its methane emissions by 45% within ten years.

As the operator of the main natural gas transmission network in the Netherlands and part of Germany, Gasunie plays a crucial role in the energy transition. Over the coming years, Gasunie will be investing heavily in infrastructure for hydrogen, CO₂, heat and green gas transmission and storage. The major problems with electrification, such as congestion, long waits for a connection, and rising network tariffs, show that there is a need for an interconnected, integrated energy system. Thanks to their high energy density, renewable gases offer a highly cost-efficient way to facilitate energy transmission and storage.

Gasunie CFO Janneke Hermes emphasises: ‘With this Climate Action Plan, we’re showing that we’re not just making plans but also rolling up our sleeves and actually taking action. We will be facilitating emissions reduction on a large scale in our society, while also putting our own emissions footprint in order. We have no time to lose and are going all out to achieve our ambitious goals. Together with our partners, we are building a clean future for the generations of today and tomorrow. Because new energy opens up a wealth of opportunities.’

The results of the 2024 Climate and Energy Outlook that PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency published last Thursday confirm the need for rapid action on fighting climate change. Although the energy transition is not without setbacks, the outlook for the long term is positive. Gasunie expects its infrastructure users to be able to achieve climate neutrality sooner than the Dutch government’s target year of 2050.