Innovation

Williams establishes first NextGen Gas certification process

Tom Droege

Williams is excited to have established the first NextGen Gas certification process that covers the energy value chain from production through gathering and transmission with deliveries to end users through 2023.

To make this full-value chain scope possible, the company recently executed agreements with upstream producer Coterra Energy and downstream utility Dominion Energy Virginia. Williams is leveraging block-chain secured technology via Context Labs’ platform to track and measure emissions across the value chain. Global audit firm KPMG LLP is performing third-party verification.

“Williams is proud to launch the industry’s first comprehensive NextGen Gas platform to bring greater trust, transparency and transactability to the certified gas market,” said Chad Zamarin, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategic Development for Williams. “As we look to a low-carbon energy future, Williams is committed to leading our industry with credible solutions to benefit our customers and their sustainability goals.”

Williams is using a Context Labs’ platform to coalesce a fragmented certified gas market by bringing together industry-leading QMRV protocols, technology solutions and customers. This initial implementation in the Northeast is part of a larger deployment strategy across Williams’ nationwide footprint, focusing first on areas where there is demand driven desire for certified supplies.

“Our partnership with Williams and Coterra is another important step in reducing emissions across the entire natural gas value chain,” said Cedric Green, Senior Vice President of Power Generation for Dominion Energy Virginia, a subsidiary of Dominion Energy which provides electricity and natural gas to about 7 million homes in 15 states.

“Certified, low-emissions natural gas is a vital part of achieving our goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We look forward to continuing this and other innovative partnerships to deliver affordable, reliable and clean energy to the customers we serve.”

Through its Sequent Energy Management business, Williams is building a marketing platform to sell trusted low-carbon and net-zero NextGen Gas to utilities, LNG export facilities and other clean energy users with the goal of helping customers reduce emissions and meet their climate commitments.

What is NextGen Gas?

Williams defines “NextGen Gas” as natural gas that has been securely tracked and independently certified as having low emissions across all segments of the value chain. The term encompasses and goes beyond responsibly sourced natural gas, which is natural gas that has been verified at the production site as meeting certain environmental standards and practices.