The protection of air and the climate
Snam helps to fight climate change beginning with its energy choices: its energy mix is in fact composed almost entirely of natural gas which covers 96.6% of its needs in 2017.
The Green House Gases (GHG) released into the atmosphere by the Snam’s activities are methane (CH4), which is the main component of natural gas, and carbon dioxide (CO2). Methane emissions arise from the release of natural gas into the atmosphere and are generated by the normal plant operations, by operations to connect new gas pipelines and the maintenance thereof or by accidental events occurring on infrastructure, whereas the CO2 produced is directly correlated with fuel consumption.
Energy consumption
In February 2018, Snam signed an agreement for the acquisition of the 82% of Tep Energy Solution (Tep), one of the major Italian companies operating in the energy efficiency industry as an energy service company (ESCO). Tep’s mission is to make its customers more competitive by reducing energy expenses. The acquisition falls within Snam’s strategic plans focused on facilitating the decarbonisation and a better use of energy.
The use of natural gas as a primary source of energy allows Snam to limit the release of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Most of the Snam’s energy consumption is attributed to gas turbines used in the compression systems which provide the pressure required for gas transportation (thrust consumption) and in storage concessions (storage consumption) which, overall, represent the 88% of total consumption.
In 2017, the energy consumption amounted to around 12,582 TJ (+14.8% compared with 2016). This surge is mainly due to the greater quantity of gas injected into the network (+5.6% compared to 2016) and to a different network arrangement in response to the new method to request the gas, which switched from daily to hourly.
In addition to natural gas, the other energy sources are electricity (2.7%) and other fuels (diesel fuel, gasoline, lpg and heat), which together amount to 0.7% of the total consumption.
Energy consumption (TJ)
Energy consumption by activity (%)
Energy consumption by use (%)
Energy consumption by source (%)
