Empowering Decarbonization: How Our Life Cycle Analysis Services Open Pathways to Carbon Markets
Published:
November 20, 2024
Author:
Ella Slupesky

Introduction

At Green Analytics, we believe that effective environmental management begins with a clear understanding of a product’s life cycle impact. For companies striving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and integrate sustainability into their operations, Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) offers a scientific foundation. By analyzing emissions, energy use, and other environmental impacts at every stage of a product or process, LCA equips businesses with the essential insights needed to achieve decarbonization goals and successfully engage in the carbon credit market.

One of our recent clients, Kathairos Solutions, demonstrates the value of this approach. Kathairos has developed an innovative technology that eliminates methane emissions at oil and gas sites by replacing natural gas with nitrogen in pneumatic devices. The LCA we conducted quantified the greenhouse gas emissions avoided through their technology, enabling Kathairos to validate their emission reductions and submit an offset project plan to Alberta’s system, positioning them for entry into the carbon markets.

Client Testimonial

"The Life Cycle Assessment developed by Green Analytics allowed us to identify the carbon sources and sinks that result from our technology. This LCA provided us confidence in the low carbon intensity of our solution and were a useful reference point for subsequent conversations with regulators and customers." – Jacqueline Peterson, Chief Climate Officer at Kathairos Solutions Inc.

Why LCA Matters for Carbon Credit Development

Life Cycle Analysis is essential for companies looking to quantify their environmental impact and monetize their emission reductions through carbon credits. LCA’s cradle-to-grave assessment framework allows businesses to:

  1. Quantify Emission Reductions: By measuring the environmental impact across all stages of production, use, and disposal, LCA identifies emissions reductions in a product’s lifecycle.
  2. Establish a Baseline: LCA establishes a “business-as-usual” scenario to compare the project’s environmental impact, allowing companies to quantify GHG reductions and convert these into carbon credits.
  3. Ensure Credibility: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has created LCA standards (ISO 14040 and ISO 14067), ensuring LCA-based emissions calculations are reliable and transparent.

Kathairos Case Study: Zero-Methane Emissions in Oil and Gas Operations

In the case of Kathairos Solutions, the LCA we performed demonstrated the significant reduction in methane emissions from their nitrogen-powered pneumatic devices compared to traditional systems that use natural gas. This allowed Kathairos to confidently report avoided GHG emissions and meet the criteria required by Alberta’s emission offset protocol. The study revealed that switching from methane to nitrogen in pneumatic systems significantly decreases greenhouse gas emissions, providing a scalable and economically viable solution for remote well sites. The emissions data we collected supported Kathairos' emission offset project plan under Alberta’s Quantification Protocol for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions from Pneumatic Devices. This validation strengthens Kathairos' positioning in the carbon credit market while supporting their clients in adopting more sustainable practices.

How Green Analytics LCA Services Drive Client Success

For clients like Kathairos and others, Green Analytics’ LCA services offer several benefits:

  • Pathway to Carbon Markets: By quantifying GHG emissions reductions, LCA creates a foundation for businesses to generate and trade carbon credits, supporting financial returns on sustainable practices.
  • Data-Driven Decision Making: An LCA provides detailed emissions data that informs sustainability decisions, enabling clients to prioritize environmental actions based on measurable impacts.
  • Enhanced Environmental Reputation: By conducting a rigorous LCA, clients can communicate their commitment to decarbonization, enhancing their brand reputation and attracting eco-conscious investors and customers.

Decarbonize with Confidence Through Green Analytics

Whether you’re in the energy, manufacturing, or technology sector, Green Analytics’ LCA services equip your business with the insights needed to align with regulatory standards, enter carbon markets, and make informed, impactful sustainability decisions. With a scientifically backed approach, we help clients transform their decarbonization goals into measurable achievements.

Reach out to learn more about our Life Cycle Analysis services or to discuss how we can support your sustainability journey.


Natural Asset Management Guidance Document: Reshaping Infrastructure Planning

Over the past 6 months, Green Analytics had the honour of being the lead author of the Natural Assets Initiative’s (NAI) recently released guidance document for natural asset management. The guidance document was created to help local governments plan for the management of our too often ignored natural assets.

a
b
May 22, 2024
Jeff Wilson

Green Analytics' Latest Asset: The Natural Asset Delineation Tool

The NAD tool is a custom tool that uses GIS to process numerous open-source datasets to generate natural asset inventories across Canada. Built by our team of experts, the NAD tool provides GA with the ability to efficiently create a natural asset inventory anywhere in Canada, using national scale, freely available data from a variety of sources.

a
b
November 8, 2023
Hugh Alvarez
How can we help you?
Contact Us