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GHG emissions and energy consumption data – Information provided in accordance with UK Regulations

Data in this section are consolidated using the operational control approach. Under this approach, we account for 100% of the GHG emissions and energy consumption in respect of activities where we are the operator, irrespective of our ownership percentage.

Reporting on this operational control basis differs from that applied for financial reporting purposes in the “Consolidated Financial Statements”. We acknowledge the strong preference of the UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) for companies to report the GHG emissions and energy consumption data using the financial consolidation boundary and are working on including the data and information on this boundary in our Annual Report in the future.

See Basis of preparation – absolute emissions.

Greenhouse gas emissions in million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent

 

2021

2020

2019

Total global direct (Scope 1) [A]

60

63

70

UK including offshore area [B]

1.71

2

2.1

Market-based

 

 

 

Total global energy indirect (Scope 2) [C]

8

8

10

UK including offshore area

0

0

0

Location-based

 

 

 

Total global energy indirect (Scope 2) [D]

9

10

11

UK including offshore area

0.05

0.06

0.06

Intensity ratio in tonnes per tonne

 

 

 

Intensity ratio of all facilities [E]

0.27

0.25

0.24

[A]

Emissions from the combustion of fuel and the operation of our facilities globally, calculated using global warming potentials from the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report.

[B]

Emissions from the combustion of fuels and the operation of our facilities in the UK and its offshore area, calculated using global warming potentials from the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report.

[C]

Emissions from the purchase of electricity, heat, steam and cooling for our own use globally, calculated using a market-based method as defined by the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. We have restated our 2020 emissions from 9 to 8 million tonnes CO2e following a correction of an efficiency factor for steam at one of our assets and a revision to how internal energy transfers of steam and electricity were accounted for at several of our assets to remove double-counting between Scopes 1 and 2.

[D]

Emissions from the purchase of electricity, heat, steam and cooling for our own use globally, calculated using a location-based method as defined by the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. We have restated our 2020 emissions from 11 to 10 million tonnes CO2e following a correction of an efficiency factor for steam at one of our assets and a revision to how internal energy transfers of steam and electricity were accounted for at several of our assets to remove double-counting between Scopes 1 and 2.

[E]

In tonnes of total direct and energy indirect GHG emissions per tonne of crude oil and feedstocks processed and petrochemicals produced in downstream manufacturing, oil and gas available for sale, LNG and GTL production in Integrated Gas and Upstream. For an additional breakdown by segment, see Scope 1 and 2 GHG intensity by segment section below.

The activity data used to calculate GHG intensity ratios at a portfolio level shown in the table above is reported on an operational control basis. As a result, it is not directly comparable with the production data reported elsewhere in this Report, which is reported on a financial control basis. The table below shows the numbers used in the calculation of the intensity:

Inputs used for calculating the GHG emissions intensity ratio

 

 

2021

2020

2019

A

8.1 Scope 1 – Direct GHG emissions [A]

60

63

70

B

8.2 Scope 2 – Energy Indirect GHG emissions [A]

8

8

10

C=A+B

Total Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions [A]

68

71

80

D

6.5 Total oil and gas production available for sale [B]

128

149

166

E

6.6 Refinery crude and feedstock processed [B]

84

99

124

F

6.3 Chemicals total production [B]

25

26

24

G

6.4 LNG production [B]

10

8

9

H

6.6 GTL production [B]

6

6

6

I=D+E+F+G+H

Total Upstream, Integrated Gas and Downstream activity [B]

253

288

329

J=C/I

GHG intensity ratio [C]

0.27

0.25

0.24

[A]

In million tonnes CO2 equivalent.

[B]

In million metric tonnes of production.

[C]

In tonnes of CO2 equivalent per tonne of production.

Energy use in our operations

The energy consumption data provided below comprise own energy, generated and consumed by our facilities, and supplied energy (electricity, steam and heat) purchased by our facilities for our own use.

Energy consumption data reflect primary (thermal) energy (e.g. the energy content of fuels used to generate electricity, steam, heat, mechanical energy etc.). This includes energy from renewable and non-renewable sources. Own energy generated was calculated by multiplying the volumes of fuels consumed for energy purposes by their respective lower heating values. Own energy generated that was exported to third-party assets or to the power grid is excluded. Thermal energy for purchased and consumed electricity was calculated using actual electricity purchased multiplied by country-specific electricity generation efficiency factors (from IEA statistics). Thermal energy for purchased and consumed steam and heat was calculated from actual steam/heat purchased multiplied by a supplier-specific conversion efficiency, or a generic efficiency factor where supplier-specific data were not available.

Our energy consumption decreased from 241 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2020 to 223 billion kWh in 2021, in line with the decrease in our Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions. Around 1% of the energy we used in 2021 for our operations came from low-carbon and renewable sources.

Energy consumption in billion kilowatt-hours

 

2021

2020 [A]

2019

Own energy generated and consumed

 

 

 

Total energy generated and consumed

189

205

220

UK including offshore area

6.2

7.6

7.6

Purchased and consumed energy

 

 

 

Total purchased and consumed energy

33

36

44

UK including offshore area

0.2

0.2

0.2

Energy consumption

 

 

 

Total energy consumed

223

241

264

UK including offshore area

6.4

7.8

7.8

[A]

We have restated our 2020 energy use figures following a correction of an efficiency factor for steam at one of our assets and a revision to how internal energy transfers of steam and electricity were accounted for at several of our assets to remove double-counting between Scopes 1 and 2.

In 2021, we implemented a variety of measures to reduce the energy use and increase the energy efficiency of our operations.

Examples of some of the principal measures taken in 2021 are listed below (with estimated total savings of around 675 million kWh in 2021):

  • At our Scotford upgrader facility in Canada, we completed several projects to minimise energy use and improve efficiency, for example by installing new equipment and making changes to how some equipment operates.
  • At our Gannet asset in the UK, we completed a project to enhance the efficiency of the fuel gas compressors by fine-tuning their performance to the specific needs of the platform.
  • At our Jurong Island site in Singapore, we installed a second stage flash vessel to recover the heat for reuse in other equipment, and completed a project to minimise power consumption by one of the incinerators.
  • At our Rheinland site in Germany, we completed several projects to reduce energy use and improve efficiency, for example, by installing more efficient equipment and changing maintenance schedules to improve efficiency.
  • At our Bukom site in Singapore, we completed a project to reduce the consumption of natural gas in flare purge
  • At our Scotford refinery and chemical site in Canada, we completed several projects to reduce energy use and improve efficiency, for example, by enabling the reduction of steam usage.
  • At our QGC operations in Australia, we implemented a project to reduce power requirements for gas compression.

Examples of some of the principal measures taken in 2020 are listed below (with estimated total savings of around 385 million kWh in 2020):

  • At our Clipper facility in the UK, we completed a project to optimise the use of compressors.
  • At our Bukom facility in Singapore, we completed two projects to minimise energy loss from steam.
  • At our Scotford upgrader facility in Canada, we completed several projects to minimise energy use and improve efficiency, for example by removing equipment from service or replacing it with more efficient equipment.
  • At our Geismar facility in the USA, we improved flare staging and temperature control which resulted in lower levels of natural gas consumption.
  • At our Mobile facility in the USA, we installed new equipment to increase heat transfer between heat exchangers to improve the energy efficiency of the units.
  • At our GTL facility in Qatar, we completed several projects to reduce energy use and improve efficiency, for example by minimising the generation of excess steam and converting excess energy into electricity for export to the public grid.
  • In Brazil, we reduced fuel usage of vessels by optimising how they operate in dynamic position, stand-by and navigation modes.

The targets in this “Climate change and energy transition” section, including those relating to the net carbon intensity targets, are forward-looking targets based on management’s current expectations and certain material assumptions and, accordingly, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied herein.

Eu taxonomy regulation

The EU Taxonomy Regulation, adopted by the European Union in 2020, is designed to encourage investment in an environmentally sustainable economy by creating uniform definitions of sustainability for investors. Although as a UK company Shell is not currently subject to the regulation, we have prepared a voluntary disclosure in accordance with its requirements. For further information, see “Supplementary Information – EU Taxonomy Disclosure”.

GHG
greenhouse gas
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GTL
gas-to-liquids
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IEA
International Energy Agency
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