Decarbonisation Technology - August 2024 Issue

provides a roadmap to setting and delivering emissions reduction targets ( Wood, 2023 ). Using this methodology, it is possible to assess where clients are in their journey and devise an actionable and implementable plan to meet individual company objectives. Across five stages, Wood works alongside clients to consider how they can effectively update their practices to implement sustainable carbon abatement strategies. Starting with substitutions, we consider how these companies fuel their operations. For example, switching electricity provision to a renewable source or considering the use of renewable and biofeedstocks in place of traditional ones can make a serious impact on a company’s carbon footprint. Beyond this, the option of capturing the CO₂ produced through the organisation’s operations “ Once each part of the process has been considered, whatever your decarbonisation journey, it is important to apply a structured evaluation process ” is explored. Carbon capture technologies are an often-overlooked way of controlling emissions. By employing CCS/CCUS models in production and manufacturing sites, companies can substantially reduce or eliminate harmful emissions from leaking into the atmosphere. We have seen greater adoption of this approach towards decarbonisation as the technology associated with carbon capture continues to mature. Wood’s recently announced contract with Saudi Aramco exemplifies this, as we have completed the first phase of work needed to launch its Accelerated Carbon Capture and Sequestration (ACCS) ( Wood, 2024a ) project, expected to be the world’s largest CCS facility once completed. With Aramco’s ambition to further reduce carbon emissions from its upstream operations, this approach enables Wood to ensure the sustainability of Aramco’s core oil and gas operations, a core driver for the Saudi economy, while simultaneously introducing cutting-edge technologies. The first phase of the ACCS project intends to capture carbon emissions

from Aramco gas plant facilities near Jubail, on the east coast of Saudi Arabia, as well as from third-party emitters. Offsetting and reducing emissions can also be impactful routes to decarbonisation for many companies. Nature-based solutions offer practical and sustainable strategies that align with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Wood has already seen success in implementing this approach through work with a major water treatment facility based in the Middle East. Utilising the natural wetlands surrounding a treatment facility uncovered a potential route for the developer to save 4,000 tonnes of CO₂. This low-cost approach to decarbonising can often be overlooked, but when used correctly it can be key for bolstering a wide range of socio- environmental benefits. A further step is taking a holistic approach to asset optimisation, considering areas around energy efficiency, digitalisation, and operations and maintenance best practice. Once each part of the process has been considered, whatever the decarbonisation journey, it is important to apply a structured evaluation process to meet goals and achieve a successful outcome. Beyond implementing the SCORE methodology, Wood has worked alongside its clients who currently struggle to keep track of their emissions outputs to develop ENVision ( Wood, 2024b ). This real-time emissions data tracking system provides governance and insight around emissions and carbon releases by streamlining and automating diverse data sets to provide a clear, auditable, and accurate view of emissions from any asset, organisation, or city. By providing a clear process for manual data provision or connected systems data collation, ENVision automates environmental reporting and, with Microsoft Azure, unlocks the value of data for an asset or portfolio of assets. The tracking solution reduces manual tasks associated with data collation and reporting by 80% with clear audibility and notifies an operator of an issue more than ten times faster than traditional methods and spreadsheets. With a secure Azure backbone, it can work with other key information sources, such as production or finance, to set strategic, measurable goals with a realistic roadmap for delivery. With an ability to interact with third-party data, automation of