Alberta is seeing results

Alberta’s proven and effective approach to methane emissions reductions has resulted in:

52%
Reduction from the conventional oil and gas sector since 2014
15K sites
Reviewed as part of TIER funding programs
17M tonnes
Emissions prevented from being released through technology funding

Proven and effective

Alberta is leading the world with:

  • provincial regulatory requirements for new and existing facilities and improving leak detection and repair
  • incentives to act early through emission offsets
  • programs to support enhancements in monitoring, reporting and reducing emissions

We will keep working with industry, technology and service providers, non-governmental organizations and others, and using a combination of regulations, market-based incentives and programs to sustain this progress – all while continuing to improve methane measurement and reporting.

Strong monitoring and management

Alberta's methane measurement system features a robust and advanced Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) framework. While the federal system is still in development, Alberta’s MRV system is already in place, providing the best data currently available through a start-of-the-art reporting platform.

Learn more about how we monitor and manage methane emissions.

7.1M offsets
58K low or zero-bleed devices installed between 2007 and 2022
150K offsets
Between 2007 and 2021

Successful industry incentive programs

Provincial funding is helping industry reduce methane emissions.

In Alberta, companies can earn credits if they reduce their emissions at their non-regulated facility or beyond what is regulated at their regulated facility. These credits can be traded with other companies and can used by regulated facilities to comply with the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation.

  • Non-regulated facilities that voluntarily reduce emissions can earn emission offsets.
  • Regulated facilities that reduce emissions beyond what is required can earn emission performance credits.

Emission offsets are measured using approved methods, called quantification protocols, and are verified by an independent third party. Two project types are available to help address methane emissions in the oil and gas sector:

  • Converting existing pneumatic equipment to highly efficient options (such as zero-bleed pneumatic controllers)
  • Reducing vent gas (gas that is released into the atmosphere that can instead be captured)

As new methane regulations come into effect, Alberta’s emissions offset protocols will be updated to continue encouraging emission reductions through projects that exceed actions required by law.

Learn more about Alberta’s Emission Offset System.

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