Tipping the Scale on CO2 Levels: Fast-Tracking Bioeconomy Decarbonization

by Mauricio Villegas (Koch Modular Process Systems/Biofuels Digest) ... When we consider the decarbonization of industrial processes, various methods exist to achieve this goal, including substituting non-petroleum feedstocks, recycling petroleum-based feedstocks, and CO₂ capture. Below, we will explore three approaches applied today and the various innovators in decarbonization technologies.

Substitution of Non-Petroleum Feedstocks

Companies are looking into new technologies that enable the substitution of traditional fossil fuel-based power with low-carbon power from renewable energy sources. These sources include wind, solar, and biomass. Rather than extracting carbon from the conventional petroleum route, carbon is removed from other resources for its manufacturing process.

Sustainable Feedstocks

Another route companies pursue is replacing hydrocarbon-intensive raw material feedstocks with sustainable feedstocks. Sustainable feedstocks include renewable plant materials, biomass, animal-derived waste, and recycled materials.) This method aims to close the loop in the economy by using material already available.

Point-Source Capture

This method involves capturing carbon emission and reusing it in other manufacturing processes rather than releasing it into the environment. Point source capture is an attractive method for most because it allows companies to control where the carbon is being utilized. Given this control, there is an uptick in companies pursuing this method.

Critical Design Considerations

Scalability and repeatability are two critical design considerations that are vital to fold into your developing decarbonization technology. For scalability, the initial commercial plant can be constructed with minimal investment and begin replacing CO₂-generating processes while generating revenue to fuel future expansion. Subsequently, as feedstock availability and product demand increase, future plant expansions can be made to the base case design and increase output. Repeatability is just as important because many novel decarbonization technologies require rapid, seamless, and repeatable deployment across various geographies close to feedstock point sources. While these are critical design considerations, decarbonization projects have many challenges and success factors.

Decarbonization Project Challenges & Success Factors

Whether you are an established company or a start-up, successfully navigating process development and scale-up challenges is crucial to project success.

The project team’s ability to hit all of these success factors can directly impact the team’s ability to deliver a commercial-scale production unit on time and budget. Nevertheless, it will be the project execution strategy that will push the process over the finish line.

The Fast-Track Solution to Commercialize Decarbonization Technology

Developing a project execution strategy to commercialize developing technology related to decarbonization projects requires a degree of sensitivity to its unique challenges. Project drivers that maximize the probability of advancing through process development phases and financial decision gates are vital in early development. Different from traditional projects, developing technology projects walk a delicate line between being economically viable or never making it past the conceptual stage. Applying the right project execution strategy, which delivers cost and schedule certainty, beginning early at the conceptual stage and maintaining project certainty through process development and validation, engineering, construction, and facilities start-up, is fundamental to the success of developing technology projects.

Generally, companies of all sizes rely on the traditional field-erected model whereby project managers more than likely have to sacrifice either scope, cost, or time to manipulate project outcomes. Traditional field-erected projects are not keeping up with demand, and companies are now leaning into modularization to fast-track their decarbonization process.

By adopting a modular delivery model, Project Manager can re-baseline and positively influence scope, cost, and time without sacrificing any of these constraints or impacting quality and safety. READ MORE