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Our support for installation of over 12,200 EV charging plugs is helping New York State meet CLCPA goals.
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Currently totaling 30 MW, our battery storage projects are part of the groundwork needed for an affordable energy transition.
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We avoided over 4.4 billion liters of fugitive methane emissions through our gas main leak repair programs.
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Ninety-nine percent of our fuel for steam and electricity production is natural gas. We also retain backup fuel sources to maintain reliability during periods of natural gas-system limitations. In 2024, in accordance with New York City Department of Environmental Protection Air Pollution Code § 24-168 (d), we finalized our transition of all remaining generating units from No. 4 oil to No. 2 oil as the backup fuel, which results in a lower concentration of criteria pollutants. This, along with other efforts over the preceding 20 years, has reduced our direct emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by around 70% and sulfur dioxide (SO2) by around 99% from our steam operations since 2005.
Figure 22
Emissions figures are based on preliminary data and may be subject to further review and revision.
NOₓ |
SO₂ |
|
|---|---|---|
2024 |
1.20 |
0.02 |
2023 |
1.27 |
0.03 |
2022 |
1.31 |
0.13 |
2021 |
1.16 |
0.03 |
2020 |
1.00 |
0.02 |
2019 |
1.23 |
0.09 |
2018 |
1.37 |
0.20 |
2017 |
1.16 |
0.11 |
2016 |
1.24 |
0.13 |
2015 |
1.49 |
0.32 |
2014 |
1.65 |
0.33 |
2013 |
1.90 |
0.54 |
2012 |
1.79 |
0.56 |
2011 |
2.17 |
0.93 |
2010 |
2.47 |
1.28 |
2009 |
2.49 |
1.53 |
2008 |
2.31 |
1.41 |
2007 |
2.79 |
1.92 |
2006 |
2.27 |
1.73 |
2005 |
3.33 |
2.63 |
Figure 23
Emissions figures are based on preliminary data and may be subject to further review and revision.
We keep our direct emissions of NOx and SO2 on a downward trend while operating a system that reliably services roughly 500 million square feet of Manhattan real estate by employing emissions-reducing controls, such as low NOx burners, and using gas and low-sulfur fuels in our generating equipment. As we continue to implement our steam system decarbonization strategies, we anticipate seeing concurrent further reductions in our non-GHG emissions.
Reducing Our GHG Emissions
We have been reducing our GHG emissions for over 20 years, realizing a 55% reduction since 2005. We are aiming for net-zero direct (Scope 1) emissions for electric co-generation from our steam system by 2040 and are planning to achieve an 85% reduction in fugitive methane emissions from our natural gas delivery system by 2040.
Greenhouse Gas Assessment
Our 2023 GHG assessment identified certain indirect GHG emissions (Scope 3) categories we could be reporting, including: 1) purchased goods and services; 2) capital goods; 3) upstream transportation and distribution; 4) waste generated in operations; 5) business travel; 6) employee commuting; and 7) investments.
In 2024, we further assessed this gap to evaluate potential material Scope 3 categories for inclusion in future GHG inventories. We first recreated our 2019 GHG inventory baseline, with all our findings to be assessed by an independent third-party organization for alignment with the GHG Protocol. This may serve as a framework for annual GHG inventories moving forward. This evaluation is still pending completion.
We recognize the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s standard for delineating emission sources into categories of “scope” based on whether a company was directly or indirectly responsible for the GHG emissions. The following charts depict our Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions calculations.
Figure 24
Scope 1 emissions are those GHGs emitted into the atmosphere by Company-owned or-controlled assets. As with our non-GHG emissions, the majority of Con Edison’s Scope 1 emissions (89%) result from CECONY’s operation of steam, electric, and co-generation plants, where fossil fuel is combusted, and GHGs are emitted as a result. Additionally, fugitive Scope 1 emissions occur when pressurized equipment and infrastructure containing GHGs has a controlled or uncontrolled emission into the atmosphere. Fugitive Scope 1 emissions are principally composed of SF6 from electric distribution equipment (2.2%), and methane (CH4) from the Company’s natural gas distribution system (6.6% CECONY; 0.5% Orange & Rockland). The Company’s vehicle fleet is also a source, albeit relatively small (1.3%) for Scope 1 emissions.
Emissions figures are based on preliminary data and may be subject to further review and revision.
Figure 25
The chart above presents the proportion of our Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, focusing on the Scope 3 emissions from the delivery to and use of electricity and gas by our customers (not including emissions associated with our supply chain or methane emissions “upstream” from the production and delivery of natural gas to the “city gate”).
Emissions figures are based on preliminary data and may be subject to further review and revision.
Figure 26
This chart above presents Con Edison Inc. Scope 1 GHG emissions trend data from 2011 through 2024. They show a trending increase in avoided GHG emissions compared to a 2005 baseline, including significant reductions in SF6 and methane. Carbon dioxide emissions, which are largely from the steam, electric, and co-generation plant operations have been reduced over this time by switching to natural gas as a fuel source.
Emissions figures are based on preliminary data and may be subject to further review and revision.
Figure 27
Scope 2 emissions are indirect GHG emissions from the generation of purchased electricity consumed by the Company. The consumption of electrical power at Company facilities necessitates, in part, that an upstream power generator combusts fossil fuels to generate electricity, which, in turn, leads to greenhouse gas emissions. For Con Edison, nearly all Scope 2 emissions originate as electric consumption by Company-owned assets, and losses in electric distribution and transmission (T&D losses).
Emissions figures are based on preliminary data and may be subject to further review and revision.
Figure 28
Scope 3 emissions represent indirect GHG emissions from sources not owned or controlled by the Company, which include, among other things, indirect emissions generated as a result of customers using Con Edison’s services. The vast majority of Con Edison’s Scope 3 emissions indirectly relate to the delivery of electricity and gas to our customers, which results in GHG emissions from either the upstream generators supplying the electricity, or the Company’s customers’ combustion of gas. Another, and more difficult to calculate component of Con Edison’s Scope 3 emissions include the emissions resulting from the Company’s supply chain; specifically, those emissions resulting from the production of material, transportation, and labor associated with Company suppliers.
Emissions figures are based on preliminary data and may be subject to further review and revision.
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