Optimal Utilization of Natural Gas in Processing Clusters with Reduced CO₂ Emissions through Material and Energy Integration

Different options exist for the utilization of natural gas either as fuel or as natural gas conversion into value-added products. Even though natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel, its use generates CO₂ emissions. This challenges the industry to achieve carbon emission reduction targets without compromising profitability. Herein, an optimization approach is presented to simultaneously consider natural gas distribution to plants together with carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) options, while also taking into account energy integration options to achieve synergies across alternative CO₂-integrated natural gas utilization paths. The approach combines natural gas with a CCUS network synthesis model. It incorporates a utility system model, which is optimized to identify the most profitable natural gas use in an industrial cluster that meets a given overall emissions constraint for the cluster. The approach aims to benefit engineers charged with the holistic planning of future profitable, low-emission industrial clusters. The approach is illustrated with an example that considers an industrial cluster with typical natural gas conversion industrial plants, common infrastructure, and CCUS options.