Carbon-Neutral Gas Delivery With Tokenized Offset Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Natural gas consumers lack the processing equipment and manpower to generate carbon offsets, and the process of procuring offsets lacks transparency regarding the sustainability of operations.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes an injection system to sequester CO2 in geologic formations via UIC wells, calculates carbon offsets based on sequestered CO2, and generates digital tokens for each unit of natural gas transferred, ensuring transparency and avoiding double-counting of credits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If natural gas consumers procure carbon offsets from third parties, then carbon neutrality can be achieved, but transparency into the sustainability of the offset-generating operation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a blockchain-based digital token system as an intermediary between CO2 sequestration operations and natural gas consumption. The digital tokens serve as verifiable intermediaries that carry transparent information about the sustainability of offset-generating operations, allowing consumers to verify carbon neutrality without losing transparency into the underlying operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where digital tokens provide verifiable information back to natural gas consumers about the sustainability of CO2 sequestration operations. This feedback loop ensures transparency by allowing consumers to trace and verify the origin and validity of carbon offsets through the blockchain ledger.
2Loss of information
If natural gas consumers generate their own carbon offsets, then transparency is maintained, but processing equipment and manpower are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the CO2 sequestration operation to automatically generate and issue digital tokens to natural gas consumers without requiring the consumers to have their own processing equipment or manpower. The sequestration operation serves itself by maintaining the blockchain ledger and automatically issuing verified carbon offsets, eliminating the need for consumers to build complex verification infrastructure.
3Measurement precision
If carbon credits are issued for sequestered CO2, then carbon offset amounts can be calculated, but double-counting of credits may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary recording of carbon credit issuance on the blockchain ledger before the credits are transferred or traded. This preliminary action creates an immutable record that prevents double-counting, as the blockchain's distributed ledger technology tracks each credit from issuance to retirement, ensuring that the same credit cannot be counted multiple times toward different carbon neutrality claims.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures carbon neutrality by securely storing CO2, calculating accurate offsets, and providing transparent verification of carbon neutrality through digital tokens, preventing double-counting of credits.
Implementation Method 1
an injection system configured to receive a measured amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) generated by a first industrial process and inject the measured amount of CO2 into a geologic formation via an underground injection control (UIC) well to sequester the CO2 as sequestered CO2
Data Source
AI summary
Systems for delivering carbon neutral natural gas include an injection system positioned at an underground injection control well and configured to receive the measured amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) generated by the first industrial process and inject the measured amount of CO2 into a geologic formation via the well. The system will calculate a carbon offset amount that is a function of an amount of carbon credits and/or renewable energy credits associated with the CO2. After receiving a request to deliver an amount of natural gas to a destination facility, the system will generate one or more digital tokens for each unit of measure of the amount, where the tokens include an identifier for the carbon offset amount, a confirmation of requirement of the carbon credits and a unique ID. The system will transfer the digital tokens to a digital wallet that is associated with the destination facility.