Topic lead: President Systems Division

Our target for 2027: We want to reduce greenhouse gas emission intensity for scope 1 and 2 by 50%.* 

Tackling climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges. We endeavor to reduce our carbon footprint and optimize emissions during the use phase of the compressors. Therefore, we focus on three key areas:

• Reduction of our carbon footprint
• Evaluation and optimization of the impact of our inbound and outbound logistics
• Improvement of the carbon footprint of our compressors

Our climate policy is the basis for all our activities related to climate change and part of our wider environmental policy. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions during the use-phase of our compressor systems is an integral part of our product and innovation management and service offer.

The measures implemented locally relate in particular to the reduction of electricity consumption and the increase in the proportion of renewable energies. Thus, our electricity consumption in Switzerland was converted to 100% renewable energies. Burckhardt Compression India was able to significantly reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions through a comprehensive energy audit. At our foundry in Shenyang, China, we successfully completed the conversion from coal-fired to electric furnaces. Scope 1 emissions have decreased in recent years, while Scope 2 emissions have increased, mainly due to the switch from coal-fired to electric furnaces at the Shenyang Yuanda foundry, while casting production has increased significantly.

   

High potential to reduce greenhouse gases together with our customers

Greenhouse gas emissions also play a vital role in our continued product development and collaboration with our customers. Over the entire life cycle of a compressor, other potential arises where we can achieve a high impact. We calculated the emissions of four different compressors over their entire life cycle calculation to better understand our Scope 3 emissions. The results show clearly that emissions during the use phase account for by far the greatest proportion. This is attributable to the high-power range of our compressors, their long lifetime and their uninterrupted operation.

 

We see also a high potential for avoidance of gas leakage, particularly where greenhouse gases are compressed. With this in mind, we launched a research and development project to evaluate various approaches for comprehensive emissions management of existing compressors.

In addition, we invest heavily in digitalization and are one of the pioneers in our industry. Solutions such as UP! Solutions Remote Support contribute to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through a decreased travel by service technicians.

^{* Excluding the Shenyang foundry where  we rely on renewable grid electricity or technological developments to achieve our ambitions. We are committed to reduce emissions and increase renewable energy at the foundry as far as possible today and buy renewable grid energy or other options as soon as available.}