Con Edison Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions as it Replaces Gas Mains for Safety, Reliability

Con Edison is taking its fight against climate change into the streets where crews are using technology that keeps natural gas and its component, methane, from being released into the air.

The company uses the Zero Emissions Vacuum and Compressor – or ZEVAC - to pump natural gas from a section of gas main that is being taken out of service and move it into the adjacent section of gas main.

Con Edison was the first gas distribution company in the United States to use the technology on live gas mains. Con Edison’s Research and Development group provided the manufacturer with input on the needs of a typical gas distribution company.

Before Con Edison obtained its ZEVAC machines, crews had to release gas from the old section of main into the air.

“This equipment fits perfectly with our belief that Con Edison has a unique opportunity to play a leadership role in reducing emissions and fighting climate change, as we pledge to do in our Clean Energy Commitment,” said Nicholas Inga, Con Edison’s vice president, Gas Operations. “Our long-term goal is to move away from fossil fuels and transition to renewables, but in the interim this equipment allows us to reduce the release of methane as we fulfill our obligation to provide safe, reliable service to our customers.”

The machine has another benefit. The release of natural gas into the atmosphere often prompts residents and businesses in the area to call in a suspected gas leak. That draws an unnecessary response from the local fire department.

On a pound-for-pound basis, methane has 25 times as much global warming potential as carbon dioxide.

Methane concentrations in the atmosphere have more than doubled in the last two centuries and that is mainly due to human-related activities, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

But since methane does not remain in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, reducing emissions would have a quick and dramatic effect on reducing the earth’s warming potential.

Earlier today, a gas a crew on Utopia Parkway in Queens transferred natural gas from a 3,000-foot section of main. That gas contained the amount of greenhouse gas emissions the average passenger car would emit during 11,250 miles of travel.

Using the ZEVAC on that job avoided the amount of carbon emissions produced by burning 510 gallons of gasoline or 10.5 gallons of oil.

Con Edison’s aggressive program to replace cast-iron and unprotected steel gas main with plastic piping, which is more durable and less vulnerable to leaks, provides plenty of opportunity to use the ZEVAC machine.

The company has been replacing an average of 90 miles of gas main a year as part of its effort to keep its gas system safe and reliable during the transition from fossil fuels to renewables.

The company makes clear in is Clean Energy Commitment that it will reduce its use of fossil fuel natural gas as it explores new ways to use its gas delivery system to serve customers.