Perth’s Resources Technology Showcase 2019: BHP plays long game in ‘bold’ greenhouse goals

Harnessing green hydrogen technology and contracting power from renewable energy sources will play key roles in BHP’s ambitious target of achieving net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions towards the end of the century.

Kirsten Rose, head of innovation, sustainable operations, said the Big Australian had set “bold goals” to cut scope one, two and three greenhouse gas emissions.

“There are many potential paths for decarbonisation, and we’re working closely with our operations to trial, test, de-risk and ultimately scale the technologies that will get us there,” she said.

Scope one emissions are released as a direct result of activity at a facility, while scope two emissions come from the indirect consumption of energy.

Ms Rose will outline how the targets will be reached when she takes part in a panel discussion — to be lead by WA’s Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Klinken — on decarbonising technologies at next week’s Resources Technology Showcase 2019 in Perth.

BHP’s head of Australian minerals operations Mike Henry, who will take the reins of the group from outgoing chief executive Andrew Mackenzie in January, will be a keynote speaker at RTS2019.

RTS2019: See the full program, list of keynote speakers and the experts taking part in panel sessions.

The miner’s vice-president of innovation, Grant Caffery, will join a panel discussion on Australia’s role in the emerging hydrogen economy.

BHP and its big miner rivals have faced an investor revolt in recent months, with calls for them to cut ties with lobby groups at odds with their pledges on climate leadership.

Ms Rose said the use of diesel and renewable energy were two short-term areas of focus for BHP to cut emissions.

“Electric vehicles have the potential to be a game-changer when it comes to reducing emissions from diesel combustion, and contracting from renewable energy sources will have a big impact on our overall emissions,” she said.

“We’re also looking closely at what we call ‘decisions with long tails’ — the key decisions we make in the course of doing business that could have a significant impact on our ability to decarbonise, such as energy supply contracts, fleet replacement or decisions around energy generation.”

BHP launched a five-year, $US400 million Climate Investment Program in July to develop technologies to reduce emissions from its operations and those generated from the use of its resources.

For more information on RTS2019, or to register, go to rtsperth.com.