Carbon Capture: The Cornerstone of a Net-zero Future
Power up your energy strategy with carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) through simulation and material research.
What Pathway Leads to a Net-zero Economy?
Since the Paris Agreement and the 1.5°C goal, the global energy sector has made strides in transitioning to greener business operations, fueling optimism for combating climate change. This progress underscores the industry’s acknowledgment of its contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and its commitment to address them. However, is the shift rapid enough to decarbonize the global economy in just three decades?
To effectively accelerate clean energy transitions and ensure that achieving net zero by 2050 isn't merely a pipe dream, difficult-to-decarbonize industries must complete the first-order task — slash emissions from company operations, which can be accomplished with carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).
According to the International Energy Agency and McKinsey & Company:
50%
of the global greenhouse gas emissions came from carbon-intensive sectors
Up to $85
per ton of CO₂ captured and sequestered from CCUS is incentivized in tax credits
20%
of the typical oil and gas company’s abatement costs can be reduced with CCUS
Maturing Carbon Capture Technology
Simulation and material research are critical components of a successful carbon capture and storage strategy. Leveraging molecular modeling and multi-physics simulation on the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform, oil and gas companies can optimize material research and development to reduce the costs of carbon capture. Energy producers can also simulate CO₂ infrastructure behavior to gain deeper insights into CCUS infrastructure and CO₂ capture efficiency. This capability, powered by virtual twin technology, facilitates the early detection and resolution of potential issues in subsurface wells.
To drive clean energy transformation, energy leaders need to initiate discussions about CCUS and ultimately, take targeted actions. Explore the infographic to learn how your company can fuel the shift toward clean energy.
CO₂ Capture: The Move to Clean Energy
While effective policy frameworks and ample financial resources are pivotal for advancing CCUS projects, collaboration emerges as equally essential. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform seamlessly connects all stakeholders on the same 3D models using a multi-scale virtual twin. This capability provides comprehensive visibility into project progress, access to digital simulations and centralized, real-time data — offering a practical means of de-risking investment and execution.
Clearly, virtual twin technology, the backbone driving offshore wind energy and advanced nuclear reactors toward net-zero emissions, is also fundamentally reshaping the global energy landscape. By investing in CCS technology on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, oil and gas companies can maximize the returns of CCUS to drive success in the renewable energy sector.
All About Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage
CCUS software offers a wide range of features and functionalities for simulation and digitalization, including analysis and validation of carbon capture processes such as absorption, membrane filtrations, fluidized beds and chemical looping.
At Dassault Systèmes, the virtual twin technology within our CCS software can create a virtual replica of a physical asset, connected with sensors mounted on the asset, consuming live data, feeding into a previously built simulated model, and mirroring the real-world experience of that equipment. This enables real-time visualization of the output of the carbon storage simulation, showing results of pressure buildup and gas saturation.
Carbon capture is considered valuable in the fight against climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Its importance in today's global energy sector cannot be overstated. By capturing carbon dioxide emissions from various sources such as power plants, factories and even directly from the atmosphere, carbon capture technologies help reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases, especially in hard-to-abate industrial sectors where emissions are difficult to eliminate through other means.
For the global energy industry, CCUS offers a practical solution toward achieving net zero and it helps ensure a more sustainable energy supply. Examples of successfully implemented CCUS projects extend beyond traditional oil and gas applications and into emerging sectors such as offshore wind energy and nuclear energy.
In the offshore wind energy sector, CCUS can capture emissions generated from manufacturing and construction processes, while in nuclear energy, it can capture emissions from ancillary processes such as the use of fossil fuels for backup power generation or heating purposes. Dassault Systèmes' virtual twin technology on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform facilitates the design and optimization of carbon capture systems by enabling virtual modeling and simulation of carbon capture processes, ensuring efficient and effective implementation of CCUS projects across different sectors.
Carbon sequestration, facilitated by carbon capture technology, including direct air capture, is the process of capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or from industrial sources. This involves utilizing advanced carbon capture pipelines to transport the captured CO₂ to long-term storage sites such as underground geological formations, ocean depths or biomass repositories.
This process, known as geo-sequestration, entails injecting CO₂ deep underground into suitable geological formations such as saline aquifers, depleted oil and gas reservoirs, or unmineable coal seams, where it can be securely stored for long periods during the injection phase of commercial operation.
Dassault Systèmes, alongside other carbon capture companies, is advancing these carbon capture systems and CCS technologies, aiming to scale carbon capture, reduce the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere and successfully transition to a net-zero economy.
The benefits of implementing CCUS can vary depending on the project's specific goals. However, aside from the evident reduction in carbon footprint through CO₂ removal and storage, common advantages include cost savings. This may include reduced operational costs, lower compliance expenses with emissions regulations and savings from carbon credits or incentives for carbon capture and storage. In addition, clients will observe improved process efficiency and resource utilization after CCS implementation. These changes can be measured through metrics such as energy efficiency improvements, optimized production processes and reduced waste generation.
There’s a growing demand for CO₂-based products and the CCUS market is projected to reach between US$10B and US$15B by 2030. Clearly, it’s no longer a question of if, but how fast heavy industries need to decarbonize.
The Blueprint for CCUS Success
Capitalize on matured CCUS technology to ensure long-term viability in a net-zero future.
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