CO2 reduction through asset electrification

In our previous blogs on the subject of emission reduction, we mentioned carbon capture and driving profitability while lowering CO2 emissions. In this blog, we look at how to reduce carbon emissions through electrification.

Electrification is proving to be a major energy transition strategy for oil and gas companies. According to the National Rural Electrical Cooperative Association, over 300,000 miles of transmission pipelines exist in the United States and over 90% are driven by natural gas. Within that grid there are over 1500 compressor stations containing about 9000 compressors. Switching those compressors from gas power to electric will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of a company.

That is just one example and can be part of an overall larger strategy of electrification. A phased approach makes the project more manageable and allows for time between phases to evaluate the efficacy of the approach to date.  

For a recent case study Rockwell Automation focused on a global integrated oil and gas company’s efforts to reduce their carbon emissions, applying an electrification strategy in one area of their operations.

Primary decarbonization effort

The first step that the company wanted to take to aid in reaching their goal of net zero by 2050, was to reduce CO2 emissions from direct natural gas consumption, fugitive emission leaks and flaring. All while maintaining load flexibility.

To meet that requirement, in phase one, the customer will convert half of their engine driven compressors to electric. They’re converting only half to start with to maintain load flexibility and allow a period of evaluation before converting half of the remaining compressors. Load flexibility means to adjust the load or energy usage to match the supply of electricity. A staged approach allows a company to evaluate the efficacy of a change like this.

When we look at this company’s ESG strategy, we see it matches closely to Rockwell Automation’s own sustainability goals. Knowing that makes us well suited to help this customer since we have developed solutions and expertise to accomplish that goal.  

Solutions offered

Rockwell Automation has a premier integration offering that combines smart motor control, both low and medium voltage, a process control system that works with third-party devices in the field or enterprise wide. Each of the solutions taken individually offers value in an electrification scenario, but combined they enable operational data to be accessed across the enterprise. These solutions include variable speed drive (VSD) with our Logix Controller and integrated safety system (ICSS), and an energy optimization solution. Combined these solutions also provide remote monitoring, control, and optimization to deliver efficiency and safety operations within the new system.

The aim is to give operators at the oil and gas company easier and faster access to critical machine and process diagnostics to improve maintenance, increase machine uptime and productivity. Insight into energy usage helps determine load distribution and gives insight into energy costs.

From theory to practice

The combination of products that we recommended to the customer allowed them to see the benefits of electrification. The data they were able to gather painted a picture and showed the value of changing to electric over gas- or diesel-powered compressors. In terms of cost savings, efficiency and getting closer to the net zero goal on carbon emissions, the first group of electrified compressors was able to show progress.

Analyzing the data showed that the company benefited from moving from Scope 1 emission to Scope 2 emission and was on the right track to meeting their sustainability goals. This information helped them to solidify electrification as a major part of their energy transition strategy.  

The value of a good partner

Rockwell Automation plays a major role in helping companies like this oil and gas company by partnering with innovative companies around the world to deliver technologies and solutions that enable a more sustainable future.

We were able to create a complete solution that suited the situation, provide the customer with the tools and training, and help them interpret the data collected from these tools.

If you’d like to learn more about our solutions, please look at: www.rockwellautomation.com