PTQ Q2 2026 Issue

pt q&a

More answers to these questions can be found at www.digitalrefining.com/qanda

Q What are some of the most important emerging tech- nologies benefiting refiners? A Scott Sayles, advisor, Becht, ssayles@becht.com Emerging technologies in refining are technically ready but not yet widely commercialised. Technologies such as AI, renewables, and other digital tools are no longer ‘emerging’; they are already being implemented across the industry. The next wave of innovation lies in how we integrate and apply advanced technologies in transformative ways while retaining the essential element of human ingenuity. Some of the most important emerging developments include:  Small modular reactors (SMRs) : SMRs have the poten - tial to provide reliable, low-carbon energy to refineries, sup - porting decarbonisation goals while maintaining energy security.  Full integration of AI, digital twins, and distributed control systems (DCS) : The true breakthrough is not AI alone, but its seamless integration with real-time plant data and advanced control systems to optimise performance, reliability, and decision-making.  Fully hydrotreated products using green hydrogen and advanced catalysts : Combining green hydrogen produc - tion with next-generation catalyst systems enables refiners to reduce carbon intensity while improving product quality and selectivity.  Remote operations and reduced field Intervention : Advancements in automation and digital monitoring are enabling fewer operators in the field, with greater reliance on centralised or remote monitoring centres, improving safety and operational consistency.  Predictive maintenance through sensors and machine learning : Expanded sensor networks, coupled with big data analytics and machine learning, are allowing refiners to shift from reactive to predictive maintenance, improving reliability and lowering lifecycle costs. The ultimate objective is to position refiners as low-cost producers while maximising selectivity toward higher-value products (see Figure 1 ). With the time span for technology implementation being 10 to 20 years, anticipate a shorter time frame by utilising the latest in computer-aided design,

Climb to Blue Sky

EtOh to JET

Goal

Nuclear Power

New catalyst

Start here

Combined systems

AI/operator interface

Digital Twin to DCS

Market adjustment

Today

Bed Rock

Blue Sky

streamlining permitting and regulatory support, and accel - erating the implementation of digital twin technologies towards ‘Blue Skies’ refining (see Figure 2 ). A Danny Verboekend, CSO, Zeopore Technologies NV, danny.verboekend@zeopore.com Probably the largest emerging trends relate to the switch to circular feedstocks, such as biomass and CO2. Emerging technologies involve several feedstock-specific conver - sions, such as CO2 activation to methane or methanol, reverse water gas shift (RWGS), Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, methanol-to-hydrocarbons (MTH), and hydrodeoxygen - Figure 2 Accelerate technology implementation using digi - tal twin technologies for Blue Skies refining ation (HDO) (see Figure 3 ). These processes differ consid - erably from established refinery operations, yet probably pose more challenges today than benefits. However, in the circular biomass or CO2-based refin - ery, more versatile, well-established conversions will also be needed to obtain high-quality fuels or chemicals. Even though considered established, a significant change may also be expected here, for example, in either cracking or isomerisation of hydrocarbons by hydroprocessing. For example, in hydrocracking, a large impact is the absence of sulphur (S) or nitrogen (N) from the feedstocks. The latter implies that the hydrocracking catalyst may be based on noble metals instead of S- and N-resistant base metals.1 Moreover, the different nature of the oils can result in a different reactivity. For example, Fischer-Tropsch-based feeds are typically more paraffinic and, depending on the In the circular biomass or CO 2 - based refinery, more versatile, well-established conversions will also be needed to obtain high- quality fuels or chemicals

Bed Rock

Blue Skies

Industry shift

Volume-driven Asset-focused Disconnected systems

Margin-driven Flexible operations Digitally connected

Figure 1 Emerging technologies from Bed Rock to Blue Skies

PTQ Q2 2026