By Ory Zik, Qnergy CEO  

In a recent video, EQT, the largest natural gas producer in the U.S., demonstrates the replacement of 9,000 pneumatic devices, cutting their emissions by 70% [1]. This is a significant step for the industry, as pneumatic devices account for around 33% of the industry’s methane emissions [2]. 

The video shows the instrumental role that Qnergy solutions played in addressing the issue. Hundreds of Qnergy’s PowerGen and Compressed Air Pneumatics (CAP) systems were used to convert EQT’s pneumatic devices from natural gas to air in a quick, simple process. The installation is as easy as swapping out a gas pipe for an air pipe, thanks to Qnergy’s ‘plug-and-play’ approach. 

At the heart of this solution is Qnergy’s PowerGen5650, powered by the revolutionary Free Piston Stirling Engine. Though the Stirling Engine was invented over 200 years ago, Qnergy is the only company to successfully commercialize it for reliable, grid-quality power. 

Why does this matter? Natural gas producers need dependable, remote power to keep their production wells running 24/7. Qnergy’s Free Piston Stirling Engines deliver that reliability with minimal maintenance, providing an ideal solution for natural gas producers focused on uptime. 

The Qnergy CAP system, which includes two redundant air compressors, replaces natural gas (methane) in pneumatic devices with clean, dry air. In this setup, the PowerGen powers the CAP, creating a reliable, efficient package that has become the industry standard for its simplicity and lower total cost of ownership. 

In addition to the benefit of reliable on-site power, the packages’ adaptability and functionality make it a leading choice for natural gas operators. In a longer video, EQT explains the selection criteria: “Once we understood what we were going to have to do in the field we looked at three different options: Air Compression, Nitrogen, and an electric option… We ended up going with Air Compression for the sites that had more pneumatic devices and we ended up selecting the electric actuation for the pads that had less pneumatic devices” [3]. Qnergy supports both implementations, as the electric actuators are also driven by PowerGen. 

The platform is ideal for gaining OOOO compliance and meeting net zero goals at the lowest cost. Each CAP system abates about 100 tons of methane per year. At a cost of less than $100 per ton of methane abated, or under $5 per ton of CO2 equivalent, it’s a highly cost-effective solution. With the industry paying $100+ per ton of CO2 removed through direct air capture and facing $1,200 fines per ton of methane in 2025, the economics of the PowerGen and CAP combination are compelling [4].  

Since launching the CAP package in 2019, we’ve worked closely with industry leaders such as EQT, TotalEnergies, and top Canadian operators to refine and perfect this solution, making it the new benchmark for methane abatement [5]. 

Today, the U.S. energy industry is rapidly adopting the PowerGen-CAP solution. Among the top 100 U.S. producers, 60% are now following EQT’s lead in eliminating emissions from pneumatic devices with our PowerGen-CAP combination. 

What started as a strategy to meet OOOO regulations and internal net-zero goals has now become the natural gas industry standard for reducing emissions and achieving operational excellence.  

References: 

[1] EQT 20 sec Video LINK 

[2] EPA LINK 

[3] EQT 4 min Video LINK 

[4] Waste Emissions Charge LINK  

[5] Press Release: TotalEnergies and Qnergy deploy an innovative technology to reduce methane emissions on the Barnett field LINK