Decarbonisation Technology - November 2021

Sophisticated models and workflows enable companies to do everything from cutting water and energy usage to reducing or avoiding emissions. They also enable organisations to improve process reliability and integrity; innovate for new processes, products and value chain integration; and develop innovative solutions for the circular economy challenges, like carbon capture, use and sequestration (CCUS) and plastics recycling. In addition, prescriptive maintenance solutions that use proprietary AI and machine learning capabilities can help reduce environmental emissions that often occur with unplanned outages. The AI-based technology learns from design and operations data and integrates process knowledge to provide prescriptive maintenance solutions. Indeed, the use of AI will be instrumental in driving energy efficiency and achieving sustainable operations across the capital-intensive industries. Embedding AI in process models, for instance, helps companies develop more efficient production options that utilise less energy and resources. Deep-learning advanced process control (APC) helps companies apply APC to more processes, expanding production efficiencies while boosting throughput. And, in-context guidance, provided by AI-enabled insight from previous operations, supports less experienced users as they expand digital applications to achieve further improvements. Reducing environmental impact Digital solutions can also provide guidance on environmental impact throughout project planning and operating processes, and even give insight into maintenance activities to help avoid equipment breakdowns – and the emissions and dangerous conditions that come with them. By using a digital twin approach, for example, companies can determine the best process and equipment selection for energy efficiency and reduced emissions of CO 2 and other pollutants and greenhouse gases. After construction, these same models are used to improve operations by adjusting to feedstock and operational variations to ensure efficient resource and energy use. Process control capabilities help stabilise operations to optimise energy use, extending this analysis across the supply chain.

efficient operations during highly volatile business conditions. As a result, many are continuing to enthusiastically embrace the innovation that digitalisation provides them in a bid to achieve new levels of operational excellence. The new generation of digital solutions deployed across the capital-intensive industries provides the visibility, analysis and insight required to address the challenges inherent in the achievement of sustainability targets. Success begins by harnessing the vast volumes of data available from operations – leveraging new technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI) – to control operations and empower operators to make the decisions that will help attain their core objectives of customer satisfaction, sustainability, and profit. To achieve energy efficiency, operators must focus on cutting the environmental footprint from resources consumed by their own business activities. That might encompass everything from reducing the use of non-renewable resources, like water for feedstocks or energy generation, through to cutting down their carbon footprint, or lessening environmental emissions generated by business operations. Many digital solutions have concentrated on efficiency gains for production processes, and technology projects frequently target reductions in energy use, yield improvement and lower emissions. Critically, too, many solutions make it possible to track progress on sustainability goals. For example, the latest process simulation technology monitors and optimises CO 2 and other pollutant emissions, while the same tools, combined with other technologies like enterprise visualisation tools and planning solutions provide the basis for emissions reporting for chemical plants, refineries and other energy assets. One leading oil company has succeeded in reducing water use by 10%, while others report benefits including improved monitoring transparency, and enhanced accuracy and speed of emissions reporting, leading to a reduction in emissions. Others are focused on using technology to model units at the highest fidelity to understand how to produce end fuels with the greenest possible carbon profile. Putting the technology in place Integrated technological solutions can form the core of strategic sustainability initiatives.