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Energy Use & Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Large businesses like ours have an important contribution to make in cutting global GHG emissions and reducing the risk of climate change. Our climate change position statement is available on our website and sets out our commitment to reducing GHGs. We have made significant reductions in our carbon emissions since our 2014 baseline year.

Scope 3 Emissions

During 2023, we carried out a complete global scope 3 assessment to establish a full GHG baseline for our 2022 scope 3 emissions, for the first time. This involved the calculation of ten out of the 15 scope 3 categories with a particular focus on upstream emission categories. The remaining five were excluded on the basis that they were either not applicable or not required. We were able to source a significant amount of consumption data, which allowed a process-based approach to be taken for most of the scope 3 categories. This provided greater accuracy than a spend-based approach, which limits insights on actual supply chain performance.

For our 2022 reporting period, our combined GHG emissions were 2,497,579 tCO2e. Scope 3 emissions accounted for 96.7%, scope 1 for 1.8% and scope 2 for 1.6% of this number. Going forward, as a result of these efforts, we now have a robust GHG emissions baseline, from which to develop a decarbonization pathway.

2023 Performance

In 2023, our total absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions saw a slight increase of 0.4% when compared to 2022, however they have decreased by 35% since 2014. Although our total reported intensity scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per metric tonne of products increased by 11% since 2022, overall they have decreased by 48% since 2014.

In 2023, 12 of our 13 manufacturing facilities procured 100% renewable electricity. The outlier facility is located on an industrial complex which does not offer renewable electricity contracts. Renewable energy accounts for 19% of our total energy mix.
  • Energy Use
  • Absolute GHG Emissions
  • GHG Emissions
Despite several facilities reducing their absolute energy consumption in 2023, the overall reduction in production volume was greater. Our production plants aim to use energy as efficiently as possible, but they need a minimum amount of energy to operate. Where production volumes fall below optimum levels this has an adverse impact on consumption and consequently emissions data. For 2023, this resulted in a 7% increase in energy use per tonne of product since 2022 and an 18% increase since 2014.
Our scope 1 emissions decreased by 1.6% when compared to 2022. As anticipated, the reduction seen in scope 1 emissions at most of our facilities was offset by the startup of the new combined heat and power plant at our Ellesmere Port, UK site in the latter part of 2023. Initially powered by natural gas, the plant has been designed so that it can be converted to operate on an intermediary 20% hydrogen blend and in the longer-term, 100% low-carbon hydrogen, as soon as this becomes available. However, in the short term has resulted in an increase in natural gas consumption compared to previous years. Safety improvements made to the hyper compressor at our Leuna, manufacturing plant in Germany and two planned shutdowns of the on-site boiler at our St Mihiel site in France, resulted in an increase in purchased steam. As a result, our overall Scope 2 emissions increased by 5% when compared to 2022. Without this change in approach, which we expect to have a better long-term impact on energy and GHG reduction, our reported absolute scope 2 GHG emissions would have decreased by 10% and our reported intensity scope 2 GHG emissions per metric tonne of product by 11%.

Resource Reduction Group

Established in 2016, our Global Resource Reduction Group (RRG) was set up to develop and share best practice across our 13 manufacturing sites. Its global remit encompasses large capital investments, company-wide projects, and local initiatives. We have a dedicated energy reduction fund to support major projects where the payback period is longer than normal.

The group, which meets up to three times a year, continued to deliver and maintain a pipeline of energy reduction projects in 2023. Going forward, these activities are forecast to reduce our annual energy consumption by over 2,161 MWh and our total group scope 1 and 2 emissions by 98 metric tonnes CO₂ equivalent.

Reducing Our Emissions

The energy reduction projects and activities implemented in 2023 are forecast to reduce our annual energy consumption by over 2,161 MWh and reduce our total group scope 1 and 2 emissions by 98 metric tonnes CO₂ equivalent.

Activities introduced in 2023 to further improve our energy efficiency and reduce our GHG emissions included:
  • St Mihiel, France
  • Vernon, France
  • Leuna, Germany

St Mihiel, France

In 2023, we commissioned the detailed scoping stage for the installation of a biomass burner at our St Mihiel site in France to determine the impact on GHG emissions for the site.

The site also implemented a new flash steam recovery vessel, with the recovered low pressure steam being used to heat electrostatic precipitators on site. Going forward this will save 105,120 kWh of steam and 18 tonnes of scope 1 emissions per year.

Vernon, France

The site replaced its existing florescent lights with an LED lighting system, saving 45,000 kWh of electricity per year.

Leuna, Germany

The optimization of the site’s direct burner has resulted in natural gas savings of 88,382 kWh and 16 tonnes of scope 1 emissions each year.  The site also upgraded its existing 1980’s primary compressors, saving 686,000 kWh of electricity per year.

A new pastillation plant installed in 2023, will enable the site to reduce the scope 3 emissions linked to its operations. Prior to the installation the site had to transport its wax products to be processed by a third party in the Netherlands. The avoidance of transportation will save 111 tonnes of scope 3 emissions per year.

  • Ellesmere Port, UK
  • Herne, Germany
  • Castiglione, Italy

Herne, Germany

The site has installed automated valves on its large blender bulk storage tanks.  Previously the pumps were manually switched on at the start and end of each shift.  The automated system will provide electricity savings of 100,875 kWh per year.

Ellesmere Port, UK

In 2023, as part of Innospec’s efforts to decarbonize, our Ellesmere Port site completed the first phase of the installation of a new Energy Centre which includes a 4MWe combined heat and power (CHP) plant.  The plant will ultimately generate electricity for the site, steam for process operations and hot water for space heating. Initially, powered by natural gas, the plant has been designed so that it can be converted to operate on an intermediary 20% hydrogen blend and in the longer term, 100% low-carbon hydrogen, as soon as it becomes available. Although in the long term this will have a significant reduction in the site’s emissions, in the short term there will be an increase in scope 1 emissions due to increased natural gas consumption at the site.

At our Ellesmere Port site a small solar and wind power energy station installed in 2022 generated 8,440 kWh of physical renewable electricity. The renewable energy is used for charging electric vehicles used on site and to power illuminated signage. As part of our efforts to generate physical renewable electricity we also started a feasibility study exploring the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels at this manufacturing facility.

As part of the global Research &Technology lab upgrade, the site installed as new variable heating and ventilation system in the building to replace the aging inefficient system. This will save 385,440kWh of electricity per year.

Castiglione, Italy

Replacement of the site’s 30-year-old inefficient air conditioning unit in the main office building with a modern energy efficient alternative will save 34 kWh of electricity per year.

They have also installed a new LED-lighting system in one of the sites main processing plants which will save 10,900 kWh of electricity per year.