Reducing carbon footprint in refining

Abstract

The rising levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide can be attributed to the rapid advancement of technology as well as the growth of the refining industry. This has necessitated a procedure referred to as "carbon footprint calculation" that calculates the amount of CO2 equivalents (CO2-eq) emissions. After determining both direct and indirect contributors, it is possible to estimate greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint using the appropriate computational frameworks. In addition to the footprint calculator, more drastic measures have been proposed, such as renewed global agreements regarding the Kyoto Protocol, which has been in effect since the early 1990s, and the global "net zero" commitment, which was initially established by 2030 but later extended to 2050, with the ultimate goal of reducing emissions and limiting the observed temperature rise to 1.5 °C. In order to compute carbon footprint in a more organized and transparent manner, it is necessary to classify emissions as direct ("Scope 1"), indirect ("Scope 2"), and indirect ("Scope 3") emissions. The "Carbon Accounting Categories" subdivide each tier further into five subcategories, which include "personal," "vehicular," "purchased," and "fuel and energy" emissions. The connection between carbon footprint and ecological footprint, which refers to the total quantity of land required to sustain an activity or people, is essential to this thesis. Carbon footprint is significant for nations, industries, corporations, and individuals because the management of the planet's natural resources is becoming an urgent issue. Alarmed by the statistics, crucial drivers for reducing carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 have been developed. Examples of such drivers include the "labeling and branding" of products, a corresponding rise in "energy efficiency standards," the reduction of "trading barriers" to encourage buyers to choose products compatible with more environmentally friendly technologies, and the strategic application of the immediately effective "carbon pricing" tool. The European Union's "European Climate Law," which makes climate neutrality mandatory by law, supplements the aforementioned initiatives. This legislation is supported by a well-thought-out "Low-carbon strategy for 2050," which is implemented via a road map delineating concrete goals and approaches for the main industrial emitters in Europe. Since industrial emissions are among the most challenging to control, a set of methods that can be implemented individually or collectively is provided to liberate polluting businesses. In addition to this practical advice, a "decomposition algorithm" as well as a "mathematical optimization" have been investigated in greater depth as carbon-neutral emission strategies. The most recent technological advancements, such as AI and IoT, can also be used to successfully reduce emissions, provided they are implemented appropriately; this is particularly important for the control of systems that operate in a quality and safe manner in an industrial setting. The petroleum processing industry is the third largest source of global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to approximately 5% of the total. As such, it is not surprising that it is an integral component of the energy grid and global warming. Over 98% of emissions coming from oil refineries consist of carbon dioxide. The technique of "Carbon Capture Storage" (CCS), which has an exceptionally high CO2 collection rate, has garnered the most attention for CO2 offsetting. An "energy efficiency roadmap" that monitors the use of low-carbon technologies by oil refining corporations is an additional suggestion. The latter is subdivided into "data collection - indications," in which external factors of the P.E.S.T. environment play a major part, "pathway building," which represents the specific selection and installation of options within the timeframe chosen to achieve carbon reduction, and "conclusion drawing," in which the selected technologies within the decarbonization pathway are utilized to mitigate the challenges generated by the former. While progression toward carbon neutrality in the refining industry is unquestionably sluggish, six separate categories have been identified as potential means of achieving this objective. Relevant alternatives include Carbon Capture Usage and Storage technology, low-carbon hydrogen, increased use of renewable energy sources, enhanced energy efficiency, and residual heat recovery. A common method for calculating the net energy consumption of a refinery unit is the "complexity weighted tonne" (CWT). The proportion of standard CO2 emissions is a vital metric when comparing multiple refineries or multiple divisions within a single refinery. Decarbonization requires a number of strategic decisions regarding the waste heat recovering system, the supplies used, the irrigation system, and the rest of the software and hardware involved, so that every stage of production is based on technological optimization. Due to the close relationship between hydrogen consumption and refinery production techniques, three decarbonization strategies for the hydrogen-use phase have been developed. For improved outcomes, a "carbon capture, utilization, and storage" (CCUS) technology-based "decarbonization philosophy" is required, in which CO2 is captured from large point sources, compressed, transported, and used in a variety of applications or injected into deep geological formations. The authors also refer to other approaches that have been previously developed and adopted by business executives, such as the "Net Carbon Footprint" model developed by Shell, which has made major pledges toward global targets by 2050. The term "life cycle" is used here to refer to not only the numerous phases of a product's creation, from the procurement of raw materials to its ultimate delivery to the final final consumer, but also the recycling and repurposing of various byproducts and product streams. Not only have major companies assumed weighty responsibilities, but so have a number of lesser ones. Hellenic Energy, a Greek energy provider, has been in operation for over four decades and has developed in line with the European Union's (EU) "Vision 5050. Hellenic Energy is also a member of FuelsEurope, an organization that advocates the idea that refineries can be transformed into the power hubs for energy and environmentally responsible products required to attain a carbon-neutral economy and society. The refinery in the Aspropyrgos region is a prominent example of the Group's efforts over the past four years to enhance its refining facilities and production divisions. In terms of upgrading the refinery and adopting a novel approach for improving sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, significant changes have been made since 2019.