Emerson is enabling energy transition with its next-generation natural gas solutions
Emerson is a globally recognized technology and engineering company serving customers in the process, discrete, and hybrid industries. As a leader in automation solutions, Emerson strives to transform operations, implementing next-generation automation architecture that drives digital transformation, enhances sustainability, and improves safety and efficiency.
As the world prepares for energy transition in line with a vision of a cleaner, greener future, Emerson continues to develop innovative solutions focused on the natural gas and propane sectors. We speak to Trent Decker, Vice President Natural Gas Business Unit, to learn more about these solutions. “I lead Emerson’s business unit that serves the natural gas transmission and distribution sector,” he opens. “Our solutions support a wide range of applications, including city gates, district stations, commercial and industrial facilities, and natural gas power generation.
“Our current business environment is more dynamic than ever, shaped by rapid technological advancements, shifting geopolitical landscapes, and mounting pressures for greater safety, reliability, sustainability, and productivity. Given this environment, innovation is not just valuable; it’s essential. At Emerson, our culture of innovation and our speed in bringing new products to the market are critical to helping customers navigate these complex challenges.
“We use agile development processes and cross-functional teams that design with the entire customer experience in mind, from sizing and selection to manufacturing and lifecycle support,” he continues.
“By leveraging advanced digital tools and simulation technologies, we’re able to reduce the number of physical test iterations required, accelerating development without compromising performance. We also utilize 3D printing to rapidly produce prototype components, significantly shortening lead times and enabling faster, more efficient testing.”
Commenting on Emerson’s recent innovations, Trent shares: “We’ve recently launched several new pressure regulators and have an exciting digital instrumentation product set to be released this summer. One of our latest innovations is the FisherTM LS200 self-operated regulator, which is designed for high-flow industrial meter sets and district stations that desire at least one of the regulators to be a spring-to-open design. The LS200 delivers high flow capacity with a compact design that significantly reduces maintenance time, making it ideal for customers who need both performance and ease of service.
“We’ll soon be introducing Fisher ARMORTM, a new digital monitoring device with advanced diagnostics and soft sensor capabilities. ARMORTM can monitor up to three pressure points as well as regulator travel position. We’ll continue to add valuable diagnostic capabilities such as flow and lifecycle estimation, failure detection, and deviations from expected performance.”
While Emerson delivers world-class automation solutions, we’re keen to explore how the company is embracing these practices within its own operations. “We continuously evaluate opportunities to introduce automation and advanced manufacturing technologies where they make sense for our operations, from material storage, transportation, and processing to product testing and verification,” Trent explains. “At the same time, we remain deeply committed to investing in our people, especially in areas where human expertise is critical to quality and innovation.
“Our team includes specialists in metallurgy, elastomers, and testing and development, whose deep domain knowledge plays a vital role in material selection, product performance, and reliability. Their expertise ensures we continue delivering high-performance solutions that meet the rigorous demands of the natural gas industry. Ultimately, our approach balances the efficiency of automation with the insight and craftsmanship of our people, both of which are essential to our culture of innovation.”
While we’re on the topic of people, Trent elaborates on how Emerson recruits and retains the best talent in the industry. “We hire people with diverse backgrounds and experiences, and we clearly communicate a career path and employee value proposition, which is often well received by our new hires,” he says. “Emerson emphasizes a culture of psychological safety, which is essential for fostering innovation, and while we’re a process-driven and results-focused organization, we recognize that true innovation requires taking risks. Not every initiative will meet all commercial goals or perform as expected, and that’s okay. We encourage our engineers and employees to learn from these experiences, analyze, adjust, and keep moving forward. If we want to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges, we must create an environment where it’s okay to try, fail, and try again.”
As part of its mission, Emerson is committed to making the world healthier, safer, smarter, and more sustainable through both operational improvements and innovative solutions that help its customers achieve sustainability goals. “From 2021 through to September 2023 (the end of our fiscal year), we have achieved a 44 percent reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions,” Trent reveals. “In the natural gas market, there is a strong focus on reducing emissions through technologies such as reduced- or no-bleed devices and the integration of hydrogen and biogas into the energy grid. We offer a comprehensive line of regulator solutions compatible with 100 percent hydrogen designed for both blending and pure H2 applications. Additionally, our regulating and odorization solutions support biogas injection applications, and our biogas solutions are part of the European Union’s REPowerEU initiative, which aims to produce 35 billion cubic meters of biomethane by 2030.”
To finish our conversation, Trent turns to what’s next for Emerson, as well as for the energy transition in general. “To drive future growth, our first priority is to ensure we continue delivering the best technology and highest-quality products in the market,” he suggests. “Beyond maintaining this foundation, we plan to focus on the areas where our customers face their greatest challenges and are prioritizing their investment dollars. Currently, key waves of investment are centered on energy transition, emissions reduction, and automation. These are core areas where we bring deep expertise and proven solutions, helping customers solve their most pressing problems and drive above-market growth.
“We expect the next five years to be dynamic and challenging, shaped by factors like changing trade policies, energy transition, automation, and complex global supply chains, with new challenges likely to emerge over time,” Trent concludes. “Emerson’s strength as a technology leader with global and flexible capabilities – spanning operations, product innovation, and lifecycle support – positions us well to navigate this evolving landscape. Looking ahead, we aim to not only maintain but grow our status as trusted advisors to our customers, helping them overcome challenges and achieve their goals through innovative solutions and exceptional service.”