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Decarbonization
Practical Law Glossary Item w-032-4586 (Approx. 2 pages)
Glossary
Decarbonization
The process of reducing of the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released into the atmosphere. In the context of the energy industry, this refers to the reduction of GHG in all steps of the energy value chain. This may include:
- Powering oil and gas extraction processes using renewable energy (most notably wind or solar) or carbon-free resources (for example, nuclear energy).
- Installing more energy efficient equipment to reduce leaks during the transportation and storage of fossil fuels.
- Replacing carbon intensive fuels with lower carbon or carbon neutral alternatives (for example, green hydrogen, wind, solar, and nuclear energy).
- Capturing and sequestering carbon emissions before they are released into the atmosphere.
- Using technologies and techniques developed in oil and gas drilling to convert the heat produced from these activities into geothermal energy.
- Monitoring emissions to respond to and eliminate leaks as soon as possible.
- Offsetting GHG emissions through investments in carbon neutral activities or the purchase of carbon offset credits.
For more information, see Practice Note, US Oil & Gas Industry: Overview.