Energy consumption and climate impact
Royal Greenland is in the process of implementing a major transformation programme for the ocean-going fleet.
Energy consumption at processing plants and in fisheries are key focus areas for Royal Greenland.
Since 2019, Royal Greenland has replaced four ocean-going trawlers and one more is on the way in 2023 and 2025. The new vessels are designed according to new principles. As a consequence, over time a reduction is expected in the total energy consumption per tonne of end-product.
Royal Greenland’s land-based production takes place at 37 plants in Greenland, 9 in Canada and 3 in Germany, with varying energy consumption and different energy sources.
Risks and opportunities
The greatest risk on using large amounts of fossil-fuel based energy is the emission of CO2 to the atmosphere, thereby increasing global warming. The risk which rising temperatures present for Arctic towns and settlements is the melting of fresh water from the ice cap to the sea, so that the local salt conditions might change, entailing higher water levels.
We have the opportunity to contribute to preventing a continued increase in global warming and its impacts, seen locally and worldwide. This is a difficult task, but we can see opportunities in joining forces to tackle climate change, through improvement and reduction projects, as well as cooperation with energy supply companies that are working to achieve sustainable, climate-neutral energy forms.
Fisheries and the subsequent value chain depend on energy for engines and machines. Hydroelectric power is available in several of the countries in which we operate, but we still rely heavily on fossil fuel supplies.
Goals and results 2023
Goals
- Reduction of energy consumption per tonne of end-product by 5% from 2022, equivalent to 2,981 KWh/tonne of end-product
- Monitoring of CO2e emission per catch tonne per vessel group
- Calculation of total greenhouse gas emissions in Scopes 1, 2 and 3 for 2022 and 2023
- Life cycle analysis (LCA) for primary products
Results
- Energy consumption per tonne of end-product in the Group reduced by 2%
- Reduction of CO2e emission per tonne caught for prawn and fish vessels of 4% and 6%, respectively
- Greenhouse gas emissions, Scope 1, 2 and 3, for 2022 calculated at 459,508 tonnes CO2e, and for 2023 at 478,890 tonnes CO2e
- LCA calculated for four prawn products at 2.9-5.9 kg CO2e/kg edible product
Ambitions for 2030
Reduce CO2e emissions for vessels by 25% from 2018, calculated as CO2e/tonnes catch.
