Innovation

CNX was a leader in bringing electric frac (e-frac) fleets to the region. The e-frac fleet helped reduce GHG and NOX emissions, and improved CNX’s operational performance and costs. CNX has a long track record of sustainability investments that achieve environmental and community benefits while reducing costs and improving operational efficiencies.

Pipeline pigging is a routine activity undertaken by upstream and midstream operators to optimize their day-to-day operations. However, every time pigging operations are conducted there is a potential for natural gas to be vented into the atmosphere. HydroPurge is a patent pending CNX technology that can eliminate all emissions from pigging operations. The prototype has been in operation for several months and has been successful at eliminating emissions resulting from pigging activity. CNX continues to refine the design of the HydroPurge from lessons learned during field trials.

CNX and Newlight will work together to capture waste methane from third-party industrial activity that would typically be vented to the atmosphere. CNX will gather, process, and deliver the methane through new and existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure, and Newlight will acquire contractual rights to a portion of the captured methane to support the production of Aircarbon, similar to how solar, wind, and renewable natural gas are delivered contractually through new and existing grid infrastructure. The agreement will enable the large-scale reduction of both carbon emissions and plastic pollution by using a captured greenhouse gas to make a naturally occurring material that replaces plastic. The strategic partnership, with CNX capturing methane gas to support Newlight’s manufacturing needs, is expected to result in several manufacturing facilities in the Appalachian region and advance critical decarbonization goals while boosting area economic activity, capital investment, and job growth. The initial 15-year contract aligns with CNX’s commercial and capital allocation strategies in the decarbonization space and further solidifies Newlight’s position as a leader in carbon capture technology.

CNX’s carbon negative methane will be sold to New Frontier Aerospace (NFA) at a premium to conventional natural gas reflecting its low carbon intensity value. Proceeds from this program will help expand CNX’s methane capture program and create more climate benefits in the future. The methane captured by CNX has a carbon intensity comparable to the environmental attributes from dairy manure-derived renewable natural gas—one of the lowest negative carbon intensity gas resources available. This agreement is a first step in moving from slow, subsonic jets that dump a billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere annually to a fleet of aircraft that are ten times faster with a net carbon negative fuel source. NFA’s advanced propulsion, materials, aerothermal, and autonomous flight technologies will enable safe and affordable high-speed travel for everyone while reducing the airline industry’s carbon impact to zero.

CNX has announced a strategic partnership in a large-scale clean ammonia project in West Virginia. The project falls within the Justice40 Initiative area targeted by the Department of Energy for investments to bring the benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to underserved communities. The project could bring approximately 2,000 well-paying construction jobs and revenues to the region. When completed, this project is expected to be the largest and lowest-cost clean ammonia project in the world, with the lowest carbon intensity of any ammonia project globally. Clean ammonia is a critical component to sustainable food production as it is used in fertilizers and pesticides. Ammonia is also used in heating and power generation and manufacturing of a number of products, including plastics.