Charting a path to low-carbon leadership: unlocking up to 90% emissions reductions in greenfield LNG
Peter Carydias A * and Simon Flowers BA
B
Peter Carydias builds high-performing teams who help global energy firms accelerate their decarbonisation agenda. He leads Wood’s APAC Transformation capability and advises clients worldwide – increasing asset performance and decarbonising energy and materials chains. He has worked in Manufacturing, Refining, Oil & Gas, Minerals, and the Built Environment, holds a BEng from Monash University, is a Chartered Engineer with IEAust/IMechE and has an MBA from AGSM (Sydney). |
Simon Flowers is an engineering professional in the energy, resources, and infrastructure sectors, and has developed and led multi-national teams to deliver high profile strategic programs and projects. He has extensive experience in the development and delivery of strategic plans for the industrial sector with a focus on engineering, sustainability, commercialisation, risk and decarbonisation. He is currently finalising his Masters of Sustainable Energy Development (MSE) at the University of Queensland and serves as the Deputy President of Engineers Australia Northern Division and on EA National Congress. |
Abstract
The liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry stands at the cusp of a transformation driven by the climate imperative. Focussing on the Middle Arm Industrial Precinct, this paper shows how carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are being reduced in a proposed world-class LNG project by assessing, screening and selecting known technologies using a Marginal Abatement philosophy linked to key emissions drivers. (1) We propose a new breed of electrified LNG facilities that could deliver an up to 90% reduction in CO2 intensity. (2) We show that through developing strategic partnerships in upstream renewable power, hydrogen supply, and enabled downstream carbon capture and storage (CCS), the significant low carbon energy requirements of an LNG facility can be delivered. (3) We discuss a Marginal Abatement assessment strategy which ensures a pathway to viable lowest cost opportunities selected in an ‘Avoid & Mitigate’ first approach. This proposed strategy ensures that CO2 emission reduction opportunities are assessed and selected consistently to determine both a lifecycle cost ($) and volume (tons CO2e) of emission reduction. These innovative strategies collectively articulate a roadmap for a low carbon future for LNG and other heavy industrial industries, underlining Australia’s potential to become a leading provider of low-carbon natural resources.
Keywords: carbon capture and storage (CCS), CO2 reduction, electrified LNG processing, energy transition, gas-driven emissions, hydrogen blending, LNG production, marginal abatement assessment, marginal abatement cost curve (MACC), middle arm sustainable development precinct (MASDP), production-adjusted baseline, renewable energy, reservoir CO2 management, safeguard mechanism, scope 1 emissions, scope 2 emissions, strategic partnerships.
Peter Carydias builds high-performing teams who help global energy firms accelerate their decarbonisation agenda. He leads Wood’s APAC Transformation capability and advises clients worldwide – increasing asset performance and decarbonising energy and materials chains. He has worked in Manufacturing, Refining, Oil & Gas, Minerals, and the Built Environment, holds a BEng from Monash University, is a Chartered Engineer with IEAust/IMechE and has an MBA from AGSM (Sydney). |
Simon Flowers is an engineering professional in the energy, resources, and infrastructure sectors, and has developed and led multi-national teams to deliver high profile strategic programs and projects. He has extensive experience in the development and delivery of strategic plans for the industrial sector with a focus on engineering, sustainability, commercialisation, risk and decarbonisation. He is currently finalising his Masters of Sustainable Energy Development (MSE) at the University of Queensland and serves as the Deputy President of Engineers Australia Northern Division and on EA National Congress. |
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