Life cycle carbon footprint verification
- Client Name
- Cheniere Energy, Inc.
- Location
- Gulf Coast, USA
Cheniere Energy, Inc. (“Cheniere”) has been issuing Cargo Emissions (CE) Tags to long-term customers since 2022. These tags are based on information calculated by Cheniere’s supplier-specific life-cycle assessment, published in the peer-reviewed journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering:
- LNG Supply Chains: A Supplier-Specific Life-Cycle Assessment for Improved Emission Accounting | ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
- Gas Pathing: Improved Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimates of Liquefied Natural Gas Exports through Enhanced Supply Chain Resolution | ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
To support the provision of high-quality, transparent information, Cheniere conducted an independent verification of its partial carbon footprint in accordance with ISO 14064-3:2019 to ensure alignment with ISO 14067:2018.
Challenge
Life cycle assessments of natural gas supply chains can be complex, particularly in the US, where there are hundreds of producers and a vast interconnected transmission grid. Cheniere employs an advanced gas pathing algorithm to define its upstream supply chain and inform life-cycle modeling, but a detailed supply chain (>120 pathways by which gas reaches Cheniere) requires increased data collection and documentation. Furthermore, to align with ISO 14067:2018, the reporter must prepare a Carbon Footprint (CFP) Study Report and demonstrate compliance with the relevant Product Category Rules (PCRs). There is no LNG-specific PCR, adding an extra challenge.
Solution
SLR provided subject-matter expert (SME) support throughout the verification process. Leading up to the on-site audit, we prepared documentation for the CFP Study Report and assessed alignment against a crude oil and natural gas PCR, providing documentation with citable evidence to justify any exclusions.
We led a virtual audit of Cheniere’s Agreed-Upon Procedure (AUP), covering the suite of digital applications that support data collection, processing, and modeling for the LCA and CE Tags. During the on-site audit in Houston, SLR provided SME support to answer auditor questions, pull sample data on the fly, and demonstrate alignment with the requirements of the PCR and ISO 14067:2018.
Impact
Cheniere successfully received limited assurance from the independent verifier on its partial CFP for both Sabine Pass Liquefaction (SPL) and Corpus Christi Liquefaction (CCL). This included two boundaries (cradle-to-gate): Production through Liquefaction and Production through Shipping, covering 5 regions and 5 vessel types. This enables Cheniere to provide third-party verified GHG emissions intensities to its long-term customers, supporting emissions transparency across the LNG supply chain.
The results of our support enabled Cheniere to receive ISO 14067:2018 verification, which is proudly shared on its website:
