Saudi’s Potential To Take The Lead In Carbon Capture On The Road To Net-zero Emissions
As nations throughout the world step up their efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emission objectives and mitigate the effects of climate change, oil, and gas-producing nations, in particular, are under great pressure to quickly shift to green energy sources. According to Bloomberg, $6.4 billion will be invested globally in carbon capture and storage projects this year. Undoubtedly, achieving net-zero carbon emission goals is a challenging feat. However, carbon-capture technology may be a lifeline for these countries’ energy sectors, and Saudi Arabia is positioned to become a world leader in this field.
Carbon Capture In Saudi Arabia – Ongoing Trends
Carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) tech was first introduced decades ago to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and enhance the quality of natural gas. Carbon capture achieves many goals, including lowering emission levels while ensuring that fossil fuels meet the pressing energy needs of the globe and providing a mechanism to assist in achieving net-zero goals by 2050.
On the one hand, photosynthesis is the most natural way to capture carbon. This is the process by which plants and trees take in carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into oxygen and energy. Since the beginning of time, people have practiced it. On the other hand, the Saudi government has started several reforestation projects with the goal of planting 50 billion trees in the Kingdom and the areas around it by 2030. The Saudi Green and Middle East Green projects are two of these.
Effective CCUS systems, according to the International Energy Agency, capture emissions at the source or straight from the air. This method of gathering carbon dioxide allows it to be stored underground or converted into useful goods. One of the several carbon-capture facilities constructed worldwide is Saudi Aramco’s Uthmaniyah project and Hawiyah gas plant.
With a target of 44 million tons of carbon capture annually by 2035, Saudi Arabia has set a high standard in its attempts to reduce emissions. For instance, by 2027, Aramco hopes to have a hub in Jubail with a storage capacity of up to 9 million tons per year by collaborating with the Kingdom’s Ministry of Energy.
The Middle East as a whole is in an ideal position to take the lead in carbon-mitigation efforts because of its vast subsurface formations, which have the capacity to store a highly significant portion of the world’s target for carbon removal, says Vikas Dhole, general manager for Sustainability Solution Strategy and Enablement with AspenTech, a provider of software and services for process industries. In addition, he stated that both regionally and globally, the efforts of the Kingdom and Abu Dhabi will have a significant impact. Along with its favorable topography, the Middle East can produce a lot of solar energy. Together, these enable the use of green energy for carbon reduction.
Takeaways
Saudi Arabia has already made a lot of progress toward building a sustainable energy sector, like using renewable energy and putting in place measures to save energy. By focusing on carbon capture, Saudi Arabia can help reduce carbon emissions around the world, especially in the oil and gas industries.
Last Updated on 10 months by News Editor
