Almost every chemical company in America is developing a plan to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years. It is something for which all chemical engineers need to prepare. That is one of the key messages from Russell Heinen, Vice President of SRI Consulting (Booth 703), who gives the opening address of the Financially Sound Green Engineering track of this year’s Chem Conference at 9:00 a.m. today.
Heinen says that until now, the industry’s successes in reducing greenhouse gas consumption have largely come from economic pressure to save energy. As oil and gas costs have risen, the chemical industry has reduced its energy consumption (by 4.7%/yr according to one estimate from the ACC), and, with the exception of those using nuclear power, every BTU saved has led to a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Now, however, Heinen foresees an era in which process changes and improvements will be driven both by demands for economy and by carbon emission trading schemes mandated (or at least encouraged) by governments. “In effect, the cost of carbon will be added into the equation,” he comments. “Whereas today a project might stand or fall by its energy consumption and capital costs, tomorrow the avoidance of carbon taxes or the availability of carbon credits to sell on the open market — current prices are 22/ton ($31/ton) — could change management decisions on which projects make the most sense.”
Heinen also predicts that it will be impossible for the olefins industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels, as set down by the Kyoto Protocol, when this comes into force for chemicals next year in signatory countries. “We believe that a 10–20% cut in carbon emissions from ethylene production could be achieved by applying today’s best practices. But that cut would be overwhelmed by the surge in carbon emissions from new olefins capacity coming on stream in the Middle East and China. To meet growing world demand for olefins, the Kyoto limits would have to be exceeded.”
For engineers, the new carbon dynamics will have many consequences. Heinen quotes just a few of the practical steps that engineers can contribute:
- Reduce the number of steps in a process. Generally, this will save energy and reduce CO2 emissions;
- Rethink purification processes. If a distillation step can be replaced by membrane separation, the effect on energy consumption and carbon emissions can be significant. Expect rapid advances in membrane technology in the next five years;
- Dust off those old plans. Changing processes usually made no sense when oil was cheap a few years ago — the capital costs of the investment simply could not be justified. But now that oil is near $80/barrel, the energy savings that some processes can offer might just trump concerns about the capital outlay. Re-evaluate older technologies in this light, too;
- Capture your carbon. Carbon capture technology needs to develop fast in the coming years. Major breakthroughs will be needed.