Decarbonisation Technology May 2026 Issue

approach, technical and economic uncertainty can be reduced in the early stages of the project. Case studies: screening carbon capture for site-specific reality Many refiners and upgraders are evaluating carbon capture as part of their decarbonisation strategies. However, the technical questions involved vary widely from project to project. In some cases, the primary challenge is selecting the most appropriate capture technology among competing licensors. In others, the key issue is whether the existing refinery configuration can physically accommodate the changes required by carbon capture without compromising reliability or emissions performance. Two recent project assessments illustrate how independent technical screening helps refine these decisions: “ Independent technical screening helps ensure that investment decisions reflect the realities of the host refinery rather than optimistic assumptions about technology performance ” Technology screening for carbon capture integration A European refinery facing rising EU ETS compliance costs required a technology- neutral assessment of CO₂ capture options for its hydrogen plants. The objective was to identify a capture configuration that could deliver meaningful emissions reductions while maintaining refinery reliability and economic competitiveness. An independent review was undertaken to evaluate multiple capture licensors and configurations. The study normalised capital and operating costs, assessed process integration with existing utility systems, reviewed plot space limitations, and evaluated operability considerations across several technology options. A structured scoring framework was developed to compare six licensors using technical, operational, and economic criteria. The assessment identified clear technology and configuration leaders suited to the refinery’s

specific operating environment. By integrating engineering constraints with financial modelling, the refinery was able to move forward with confidence toward the next phase of engineering using a defensible, data-driven selection. Operational constraints in hydrogen plant CO₂ capture A separate evaluation for a refinery illustrates a different type of decarbonisation challenge: operational integration. The operator was exploring the feasibility of adding CO₂ capture to an existing hydrogen production unit. Early project concepts assumed that removing CO₂ from pressure swing adsorption (PSA) tail gas would not significantly affect reformer operation. A rapid technical screening revealed that the proposed configuration would substantially alter the reformer heat balance. Removing CO₂ from the fuel stream increased combustion temperatures and air demand, creating potential constraints on the forced-draft and induced- draft fan systems. The changes also raised the possibility of increased NOx formation, depending on the resulting combustion conditions. By identifying these interactions early, the refinery avoided progressing with a configuration that could have created operability challenges and emissions risks. Instead, the findings allowed the project team to refocus subsequent engineering studies on realistic operating ranges, delivery, and commissioning risk. These two studies highlight a broader lesson for decarbonisation planning. The key question is rarely whether a carbon capture technology can work in isolation, but whether it can be integrated into a specific refinery configuration at an acceptable cost and operating risk. Independent technical screening helps ensure that investment decisions reflect the realities of the host refinery rather than optimistic assumptions about technology performance. What successful decarbonisation projects have in common The wave of decarbonisation announcements across European refining peaked between 2021 and 2023, driven by policy incentives, lower