Value of emerging and enabling technologies in reducing costs, risks and timescales for CCS

Publication Overview

This study is a horizon scanning exercise, aiming to understand the relevance of digital and enabling technologies for CCS and to assess the benefits they could offer to the large-scale deployment of CCS. It was contracted with the consultants Element Energy who led the work in conjunction with Imperial College, London. Diverse technologies, platforms and innovations developed outside of the energy sector are now being brought to this sector to reduce costs, risks and timescales for projects and could be applicable to current and future CCS projects as well. The deployment of CCS currently falls short of the projected capacity needed to achieve global emissions reduction targets, despite being a proven technology in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Publication Summary

• There are a wide range of relevant applications for digital and enabling technologies in CCS that could potentially reduce costs and address risks and challenges in deployment.
• Although only some applications are currently under development in CCS, the benefits of these technologies discussed in the report are largely transferable from related sectors.
• Applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT) in predictive maintenance and automation deliver the greatest potential reductions in project costs.
• Significant savings are only expected to be realised from 2030.
• Additive manufacturing will have the greatest impact in capture downtime. VR (Virtual reality) and AR (Augmented reality) will primarily impact on the reduced downtime, while advanced materials are considered most applicable in storage projects.
• Total cumulative global savings of almost $200bn (10%) in total lifetime costs of projects deployed up to and including 2040 are possible.
• Cost model projections predict that:
• For sites operating in 2025, overall reductions of 2% in lifetime costs can be expected for onshore and offshore sites, resulting from 8-9% less OPEX (operational expenditure) costs and a reduction of 10% in supply chain losses.
• By 2040, 19% overall cost reductions are projected in offshore projects and 26% in onshore; a result of a 7-9% CAPEX (capital expenditure) reduction, 50% OPEX reduction and 50% reduction in injection facility downtime.