Environmental responsibility
Our environmental responsibility efforts focus on:
- reducing emissions from our operations
- supporting customers in reducing end-use emissions
- protecting the local environment, including plant life, wildlife, water bodies, native prairie and species at risk.
Reducing our emissions from operations by 35 per cent by 2030
SaskEnergy is committed to the responsible delivery of energy to the residents, businesses and industries of Saskatchewan. We have set a target to reduce our emissions from operations by 35 per cent, from 2019 levels, by 2030.
This includes emissions from:
- our natural gas system
- heating offices and facilities
- electricity use
- equipment used in operations.
Improving our operational efficiency
We've reduced our emissions from operations by 17 per cent from 2019 levels.
Year-over-year emissions reductions
In 2023-24, SaskEnergy achieved year-over-year GHG emissions reductions of 8,000 tonnes CO2e, which is like taking more than 1,800 vehicles off the road.
Contributing to this result was:
- efficient and prioritized compressor operation
- vent capture technology that is realizing further emissions reduction benefits
- a decrease in reported gas line flaring and venting
- improvements to data measurement, which has resulted in more accurate emissions reporting.
Optimizing our electricity use
In 2022-23, we constructed our first large-scale solar project at one of our town border stations in Regina. The 176 solar panels at this site generate nearly 80,000 watts, which is enough to offset the station's annual power consumption.
During 2023-24, we added three additional solar systems at our TBS in north Regina, at our Swift Current Service Centre, and at our Success compressor station.
For more than a decade, we've been installing solar panels at our natural gas pressure reduction stations and compressor sites. More than 440 sites throughout the province now include solar power.
Capturing and rerouting compressor emissions
Since 2016, SaskEnergy has installed emissions-capturing devices on all new compressors. We also retrofitted existing compressors to reduce emissions from day-to-day operations. SaskEnergy now has 30 compressors outfitted with emissions reduction devices and in 2023-24, the technology resulted in a reduction of more than 4,200 tonnes of CO2e emissions and saved nearly $30,000 in fuel costs.
Reducing customer emissions
Helping customers reduce their emissions and meet their environmental goals is an important part of our energy stewardship strategy. It is also an area in which immediate environmental impacts can be made.
Residential and commercial end-use emissions have declined by nearly 20 per cent over the last 20 years due to energy efficiency programs, improved building design and more efficient natural gas appliances. Decreasing energy usage is the most effective way for customers to reduce their emissions. SaskEnergy’s customer programs support the installation of high-efficiency equipment to optimize natural gas use. This allows customers to reduce end-use emissions and save money.
More than 73,000 tonnes of CO2e per year are now being saved in emissions by customers who have participated in our energy efficiency programs. This is equal to taking 17,000 vehicles off the road each year.
Protecting the local environment
From project planning to construction, operation, and reclamation activities, SaskEnergy strives to reduce our impact on the environment.
When planning our projects, we avoid environmentally-sensitive landscapes and water features. Interactive tools are used to route and site our gas lines and facilities so that we don’t disturb sensitive habitat for the species that make it their home. A number of measures are also in place to prevent the introduction or spread of invasive species or diseases.
Through our reclamation and integrity programs, thousands of kilometres of gas lines are inspected every year to help make sure we are protecting the landscape. We regularly work with and reach out to landowners with gas lines on their property to ask for feedback on our performance and pride ourselves on being responsive to any concern that may arise.
We encourage and promote environmental responsibility and stewardship through collaboration with stakeholders, including industry and customers and by supporting community organizations.
SaskEnergy has sponsored more than 400 environmental and wildlife initiatives across Saskatchewan throughout the last 10 years. We have also partnered with Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC) for more than 20 years and our employees have donated countless hours to corporate greening initiatives.