Environmental Attributes

CNX actively explores potential pathways to develop and quantify environmental attributes under various programs. The environmental attributes that we generate and sell can include items such as (but are not limited to): carbon credits, air quality credits, renewable or alternative energy credits, methane capture credits, methane performance certificates, emission reductions, offsets and/or allowances.

Proprietary Technology

CNX is actively pursuing the commercialization of internally developed proprietary technologies that seek to reduce both cost and emissions during various natural gas development phases.

Derivative Products

CNX believes that using natural gas as a sustainable fuel source for high-emitting economic sectors like transportation, manufacturing, and other industrial processes could dramatically reduce emissions footprints in those sectors while creating new vertical markets for compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) and help fast-track the implementation of downstream products such as hydrogen and ammonia.

PROCESS INNOVATION

AutoSep^SM Technologies

CNX and Deep Well Services (DWS) announced a joint venture in 2024 to launch AutoSep^SM Technologies, a new oilfield service company providing step change improvement to conventional flowback operations. The new entity will benefit from the technological development capabilities of CNX and the service quality standard that DWS provides to the industry. As a standalone company operated by DWS, AutoSep^SM Technologies will have the flexibility and autonomy to provide an automated flowback system for modern, high rate, and erosive unconventional shale wells. The new, highly compact system can be deployed in a fraction of the time and requires less labor, while reducing costs, improving safety, and lowering the environmental impact associated with conventional flowback operations.

AutoSep’s Automated Control Units (ACU), allow for a fully sealed flowback that effectively eliminates methane emissions, including that of sand trap blowdowns. This is considered to be the market’s first readily available solution for capturing methane vapors, including during simultaneous operations. The market potential for this product solution across domestic and international oil and gas basins is significant. Each year 20,000 wells are flowed back in the United States, and 60,000 wells are flowed back globally. DWS and CNX believe the technology is applicable for drill out operations as well and intend to market the technology to operators across domestic and international oil and gas basins that seek to lower capital costs while reducing emissions.

Electrification of the Drilling Rig

In 2019, CNX and Evolution Well Services—a strategic service partner—established the first long-term agreement for an electric fracturing fleet in the Appalachian Basin. Evolution, and its sister company Dynamis, remain key partners as we electrify the drilling operation. The Dynamis Hybrid Drilling system uses high-efficiency continuous duty natural gas reciprocating power generation on-site as well as battery storage technology to reduce emissions and fuel consumption while at the same time improve efficiencies. Gas processing and power distribution equipment will be trailer mounted, allowing for ease of transport and setup, and minimizing the use of cranes for equipment placement during rig moves.  

ICE Thermal Harvesting 

In 2023, CNX expanded our waste heat capture project. Piloted at CNX’s Dry Ridge compression station, the project’s second phase will outfit additional compression with ICE Thermal waste heat capture technology. Captured heat utilizes the organic Rankine cycle to generate on-site power, effectively offsetting CNX power usage from the electrical grid. The technology reduces costs and emissions while utilizing a previously wasted energy source.

Given the success of the Dry Ridge project, CNX intends to expand this technology and scale at additional CNX locations in 2024. 

FORCE ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS CNG-POWERED TRUCK

In 2023, the first 100% compressed natural gas (CNG) water hauling tanker unit went into service for CNX by way of partnership with FORCE Environmental Solutions, expanding clean fuels use in the Appalachian region.

Recognized as a feasible, low-cost alternative to diesel, CNG engines emit 30% less carbon dioxide, 90% less NOx, and 42% fewer sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions¹, while reducing costs by 50% compared to traditional fuels. CNG engines are a natural fit for large fleets like trucks and busses due to their torque and hauling capabilities. 

The initiative demonstrates the benefits of our “produce it here, use it here” strategy, which reduces CNX’s global supply chain risk while investing in the local economy. Using natural gas—an abundant, lower emissions fuel—from the Marcellus and Utica shales is the logical approach.

1. R&D GREET® 2023 Model, https://greet.anl.gov/ The Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies Model

KeyState Energy Sustainable Aviation Fuel

CNX is collaborating with KeyState Energy and the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) to accelerate regional and national hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development. Once complete, this joint project can produce hydrogen solely, reaching up to 68,000 metric tons annually, or SAF exclusively, up to 70 million gallons per year.  

Building upon CNX and PIT's previously announced alternative fuel strategy in 2022, this initiative supports the national goal of significantly reducing hard-to-abate sectors' emissions by 2030, positioning the region as a key player in the hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel industries.

SAF, produced from a variety of sources including waste feedstocks, can drastically reduce the lifecycle carbon emissions of air travel, making it the best decarbonization lever the aviation industry has to reach net zero. Currently, SAF accounts for less than 1% of global commercial airline consumption.

A facility of the proposed size and scope would produce enough alternative fuel to supplant nearly all traditional jet fuel consumption at PIT at a price competitive with conventional jet fuel. See more here

Hydrogen

Coal Mine Methane (CMM)-produced hydrogen carries a negative carbon intensity (CI) score, according to calculations from the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. Hydrogen can be produced using a variety of feedstocks and is one of the most viable ways to quickly decarbonize key economic sectors—particularly heavy industry, processes, and other hard-to-abate sectors, including transportation fuels.

The 45V Hydrogen Production Tax Credit, established in 2022 by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), aims to incentivize the wide-scale development of clean hydrogen nationally. As defined, clean hydrogen is based on the lifecycle carbon emissions to produce 1kg of hydrogen and is intended to be technology and feedstock neutral.

If properly incentivized, using CMM as a clean hydrogen feedstock will change the perception of the energy transition across Appalachia, turning fugitive CMM into a usable commodity. With a conducive policy environment and given CNX’s unique technical expertise, leading position, and pioneering legacy in the capture and processing of CMM, CNX holds the keys to this generational opportunity across the Appalachian region. CMM-produced hydrogen will help generate jobs and economic opportunities in disadvantaged energy communities, improve air quality, encourage partnerships with labor organizations, strengthen our regional supply chain, and generate new tax revenues in the energy communities most impacted by the evolving energy economy.

Click here to view CNX’s full comment letter submitted to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Treasury regarding their 45V draft guidance. A broad coalition of local and national stakeholders also provided comments to the Department of Treasury on the importance of a CMM pathway in the final rules for the 45V Hydrogen Production Tax Credit.

As an active participant in West Virginia’s pursuit of a regional hydrogen energy hub, and a member of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), CNX brings local expertise, low-carbon technology capabilities, infrastructure, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) skill sets to the coalition—composed of energy producers, end-users, infrastructure developers, and technological experts. CNX is prioritizing delivery of long-term energy and technology solutions for the region and is leading the tri-state area to a more sustainable future.