Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)
At ADIPEC 2024, UAE-based Kanoo Energy showcased a range of cutting-edge solutions aimed at furthering long-term sustainability goals in the energy sector, with a particular focus on carbon capture.
In an interview with Aletihad on Wednesday, Raman Marwaha, general manager of Kanoo Energy for the UAE and Oman, provided an overview of the company's innovations. The company had recently piloted the world's largest modular carbon capture solution at ADNOC Fertiglobe.
Marwaha explained that this application employs the highly efficient CycloneCC modular system to capture CO2 post-combustion. "What makes this technology stand out is its compactness - its footprint is ten times smaller than conventional carbon capture systems," he said.
Following the success of the initial pilot, Kanoo is now collaborating with ADNOC to scale up the solution, targeting a capture rate of 200 tons per day, Marwaha added.
The company is currently testing a pre-commercial carbon capture system with ADNOC Gas that reduces the carbon footprint by about 40%. This involves a process of breaking natural gas into hydrogen and graphene, Marwaha explained. "Graphene is the wonder product of the future," he said.
Kanoo is actively collaborating with universities to explore new applications for this material and find ways to monetise carbon. Marwaha further noted that artificial intelligence (AI) is being integrated into Kanoo Energy's carbon capture solutions to enhance the efficiency of the amine absorbent used in carbon capture, as well as to monitor and operate circulation pumps.
"Through AI, we've been able to improve operational efficiency by over 17%," he said. Marwaha believes that technology plays an integral role in the decarbonisation of the energy sector.
"We are currently working on introducing a number of robotic solutions that can aid in the maintenance of above-ground storage tanks, for tasks such as painting, blasting and inspection," he said.
Marwaha pointed out the significant environmental and safety benefits of this approach: "By using robots for painting and blasting, we reduce wastage by over 70%. This has a direct positive impact on the environment, and it also safeguards the health of workers by eliminating their exposure to harmful chemicals."
However, Marwaha acknowledged that integrating technology into decarbonisation efforts comes with its challenges. "One of the biggest hurdles we face is data gathering," he said.
"Data security, sensitivity, and access control are significant concerns, especially when dealing with clients who may be reluctant to share critical data."