This research project represents a collaborative effort between E&C Consultants, an international energy procurement consultancy, and aims to address the increasing demand for guidance on scope 1 emissions reduction strategies expressed by their clients. From a procurement perspective, companies are actively seeking alternative commodities, such as biomethane or hydrogen, to substitute their natural gas consumption. In response to this growing trend, multinational corporations are displaying an increased interest in voluntary emission reduction initiatives, including the Science Based Targets initiative and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Subsequently, the research project encompasses an investigation into the sustainability plans adopted by companies. Furthermore, an analysis of the European biomethane and hydrogen markets is made. Most of the information is derived from interviews conducted with diverse stakeholders, including multinational companies, energy traders, an energy supplier, a gas market expert, and a carbon removal expert. The findings of this research project indicate that multinational corporations have established robust short-term sustainability plans, yet encounter challenges in formulating long-term strategies, primarily due to legislative ambiguities and limited resources and expertise. The implementation of REPowerEU [1] is expected to significantly augment the production levels of both biomethane and hydrogen by 2030. The biomethane market is predominantly characterised by supply constraints, owing to the high demand it experiences, resulting in elevated prices. Conversely, the hydrogen market is less mature and exhibits comparatively lower demand as companies have to implement alternative technologies that are required for hydrogen adoption. Eventually, both biomethane and hydrogen possess the potential to emerge as cost-competitive alternatives to natural gas, depending upon the maturation and development of their respective markets. / Detta forskningsprojekt representerar ett samarbete mellan E&C Consultants, en internationell energiupphandling, och syftar till att möta den ökande efterfrågan på vägledning om scope 1-strategier för minskning av utsläppen uttryckt av deras kunder. Ur ett upphandlingsperspektiv söker företag aktivt alternativa råvaror, såsom biometan eller väte, för att ersätta deras naturgas konsumtion. Som svar på denna växande trend visar multinationella företag ett ökat intresse för frivilliga initiativ för att minska utsläppen, inklusive initiativet Science Based Targets och Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Därtill omfattar forskningsprojektet en utredning av antagna hållbarhetsplaner av företag. Dessutom görs en analys av den europeiska biometan- och vätemarknaderna. Merparten av informationen kommer från intervjuer med olika intressenter, inklusive multinationella företag, energimäklare, en energileverantör, en gasmarknadsexpert och en expert på koldioxidinfångning. Av denna studie indikerar att multinationella företag har etablerat robusta kortsiktiga hållbarhetsplaner, men stöter på utmaningar i att formulera långsiktiga strategier, främst på grund av oklarheter i lagstiftningen och begränsade resurser och expertis. Implementeringen av REPowerEU [1] förväntas avsevärt förstärka produktionsnivåer av både biometan och väte till 2030. Biometanmarknaden kännetecknas övervägande av utbudsbegränsningar på grund av den höga efterfrågan, vilket resulterar i förhöjda priser. Omvänt är vätgasmarknaden mindre mogen och uppvisar jämförelsevis lägre efterfrågan eftersom företag måste implementera alternativa tekniker som krävs för att använda väte. Så småningom kan båda biometan och väte ha potential att vara konkurrenskraftiga alternativ till naturgas, beroende på deras mognad och utveckling de respektive marknaderna.

The emissions of greenhouse gases need to be cut by 45% between 2010 and 2030 and reach net-zero by around 2050 (IPCC, 2018) to limit global temperature-rise to 1,5 degrees C. More companies are committing to net-zero emissions, but the overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the world are still going up, and previous research shows that there is an implementation gap and lack of plans in companies. This thesis examines the hindering and supporting factors for companies’ net-zero transition. It is also exploring how SBTi, sustainability reporting, and sustainability ratings influence the net-zero transition in companies according to sustainability practitioners. The key findings are that companies alone cannot do the net-zero transition; they are dependent on other stakeholders and factors such as investors, customers and suppliers. Investors and customers are strong drivers for some companies to make the transition to netzero, but they are also the strongest hindering factors not wanting to pay extra or sacrifice dividends for the transition in companies’ value chains. Companies are also dependent on their suppliers and customers to measure and cut their value chain scope 3 emissions. To reach net-zero, new ways of collaboration are needed across the value chain. Internally, the implementation has not started properly in many companies. The key hindering factor internally is money, the investments needed will impact the profits, and often bonuses of managers, and GHG emission reductions need to be valued on the same level as money. Investors and financial actors play a large role pushing companies to set net-zero targets through SBTi. SBTi is a key framework to make companies cut emissions in line with science, but its control mechanisms are weak. If the control mechanisms are strengthened through audits, accountability and litigation, SBTi has the potential to be a very strong supporting factor for companies’ net-zero transition. Sustainability reports and ratings are the way companies communicate their net-zero performance with their stakeholders, but the reports are a polished truth, and it is difficult to understand the net-zero performance in companies. Ratings such as CDP do not reward emission reductions enough, instead they reward processes and documents which can make the companies look greener than they are.