Our Environmental Action Plan (EAP) sets out 30 commitments to demonstrate how we, as a business, intend to reduce our impact on the environment. These commitments are grouped into five broad areas:

1. Air quality – compressor emissions

We’ll work to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from our operations. This includes replacing some older compressors in our network with cleaner technology.

We produce NOx in the combustion of natural gas in our gas turbine driven compressor fleet. To ensure compliance with tighter emission limits in the Environmental Permitting Regulations we are installing new lower NOx emitting assets at Peterborough, Huntingdon and Hatton compressor stations.

2. Climate change – our climate commitment

We have developed a “science-based target initiative aligned” route to net zero. This is particularly challenging for the gas industry where routes to decarbonisation are uncertain and rely on policy decisions about the future hydrogen economy.

3. Responsible asset use

We’ll address redundant assets, asset groups or sites, contributing to a sustainable, lower-carbon future by decommissioning them responsibly or repurposing where possible.

4. Caring for the natural environment

We’ll ensure both new construction and decommissioning projects include initiatives to protect and promote biodiversity. We’ll also enhance the value of natural assets on non-operational land that we own.

We have introduced our Natural Capital Tool, which enables us to measure the impact of our projects on the natural environment and to develop reinstatement plans to ensure we deliver a 10% net gain upon project completion. We have also assessed the environmental value of our non-operational land and are developing plans to deliver a net increase in environmental value, in addition to improved hedgerow planting at our Aylesbury Compressor Station and promotion of the Creekside Discovery education centre.

5. Leadership for change

We’ll embed sustainability in our decision making, be transparent on our progress, and work with industry to drive forward the sustainability agenda.

We have already embedded sustainability in network development through our ND500 and Formal Environmental Assessment processes, and are working with our suppliers to ensure they have the same vision. We are prominent in the fugitive emission landscape, supporting the development of leak detection and repair methodologies in the UK and across Europe through our industry engagement activities.