Siemens Energy was tapped to help a Quebec liquified natural gas project reach carbon neutrality amid criticism from Greenpeace on the construction of its pipeline, liquefaction plant, and export facility.
The German company will provide engineering services and technology to reduce the carbon emissions for the carbon neutral Energie Saguenay LNG project, being development by Symbio Infrastructure subsidiary - GNL Quebec.
The project’s export facility will be powered by nearby hydroelectricity. Siemens will also work with Symbio’s subsidiary Gazoduq’s carbon-neutral natural gas pipeline project between Ontario and Quebec.
“We’re proud to support Symbio’s carbon-neutral Canadian LNG project powered by hydroelectricity, and Canada’s first carbon-neutral natural gas transmission line, while also integrating cutting-edge Siemens Energy solutions and technology to realise one of the world’s lowest carbon intensity LNG value chains,” said Tim Holt, a member of Siemens' executive board.
The project has faced criticism from environmental organisation Greenpeace, who says the pipeline crosses indigenous lands, which could negatively affect economies there, and the export port could put endangered species like the beluga whale at risk.
In response to Symbio and Siemens’ efforts to create low-carbon solutions for the natural gas supply from Canada to Germany, Greenpeace said the project would still increase the amount of gas produced in the West while several net-zero pathways by energy organisations calls for a decrease in gas production, and the many of the concerns over the project are still not addressed.
“This announcement does not change the fact that if this gas export project sees the light of day, it would be a disaster for the climate, beluga whales, and the wallets of Quebec families,” Greenpeace said in a statement released in French.
Siemens Energy and Symbio Infrastructure did not respond to Upstream’s inquiries about the criticism.
The examination of the role of natural gas and LNG in the energy transition has also led to questions over the accuracy of so-called ‘carbon-neutral’ LNG plants, with concerns over emissions in shipping and end-use.
