How is Baker Hughes Using Geothermal and Hydrogen Tech?
Since the start of industrial times in the 18th century, human activities have increased atmospheric CO₂ by 50%, according to NASA.
For many companies, sustainability now sits at the centre of corporate strategy, with the aim of meeting net zero in line with the Paris Agreement.
Energy technology firm Baker Hughes says sustainability is now part of its brand identity.
“We are holding the course to advance sustainability," says Allyson Anderson Book, Chief Sustainability Officer at Baker Hughes.
“People are the centre of what we do and who we do it for, demonstrated by our strong commitment to the Ten Principles of United Nation Global Compact and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“We deliver value to stakeholders by driving sustainability throughout our operations and across our value chain, with our employees leading in advancing a sustainable future for all.”
Baker Hughes’ 2030 and 2050 energy goals
In its 2024 sustainability report, Baker Hughes commits to attracting, retaining and developing top talent while fostering an inclusive, respectful and safe workplace.
Its climate targets include reaching net zero by 2050, with a 50% cut in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030.
Scope 1 refers to direct emissions from owned operations and Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from purchased energy.
The company also works towards a circular economy by reducing material use, lowering energy consumption, cutting waste and increasing recycling, aiming to send zero waste to landfill by 2030.
Baker Hughes sets a goal to cut water use in water-stressed locations by 2030 and to assess all its sites for biodiversity risk, implementing risk management plans at high-risk locations.
Employee-led carbon reduction initiatives
Baker Hughes’ Carbon Out programme is a global employee engagement scheme designed to empower staff to work more sustainably and create practical solutions to reduce emissions.
The initiative connects employees with tools, funding and resources to promote energy efficiency and low-carbon operations across the business.
Notable projects include remote training using augmented reality, consolidating shipments to cut diesel use, installing electric vehicle charging points, recycling shipping crates, adding new digital meters for water monitoring, using reusable containers with customers and diverting disposal waste to incineration with energy recovery.
“Sustainability is a shared responsibility and the Carbon Out program provides a framework across global sites and teams to reduce operational emissions and contribute to our net zero goal," says Amerino Gatti, Executive Vice President of Oilfield Services & Equipment at Baker Hughes.
“Since 2021, we have reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 29.3%, as noted in our 2024 sustainability report, driven in part by the efforts of our employee advocates across the organisation.”
Technology for low-carbon energy
Baker Hughes says its innovation strategy focuses on technology that supports the expansion of cleaner energy.
A major priority is carbon capture, with the company’s Carbon Edge technology designed to optimise CO₂ management for customers.
It also develops systems to enable the production, transport, monitoring and use of hydrogen as a clean fuel.
In geothermal energy, the company delivers power generation systems, drilling solutions and specialised well services for geothermal applications.
In addition, Baker Hughes offers technologies that allow real-time monitoring and mitigation of GHG emissions, ensuring compliance with changing environmental regulations.
Lorenzo Simonelli, CEO of Baker Hughes, says: “At Baker Hughes, we design, build and deliver transformative, innovative solutions aimed at solving many of the world’s complex challenges for a lower-carbon future.
“Our ability to simultaneously drive economic growth and achieve significant emissions reductions underscores our leadership in the energy sector and our impact towards sustainable energy development.”
