Industrial Engineering & Management

Cost Effective Strategies to Reduce CO2 Emissions in the UAE: A Literature Review

Abstract

Faisal Saleh Aidrous, Abdulla Al Wahedi and Zin Eddine Dadach

The objective of this literature review is to propose cost-effective strategies to reduce CO₂ emissions in the UAE. First, fuel gas is the most suitable combustible to avoid corrosion and other technical problems in a future Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) plant. The resulting low concentration of CO₂ in the absorption column could be increased by recycling part of the flue gas or using oxygen for combustion. To capture CO₂, a blend of a Task Specific Ionic Liquid containing amine moiety mixed with an ionic liquid in polymer form is a potential candidate to replace the existing amine mixture. For the compression of CO₂, the combined process of reciprocating compressors with inter-cooling, liquefaction and pumping with a diaphragm pump could offer a higher overall efficiency than using compressors alone. For the sequestration of CO₂, the “New Generation” miscible CO₂-EOR technique optimizes both oil production and CO₂ storage but immiscible CO₂-EOR is the recommended strategy for wells that fail the asphaltene precipitation test. Finally, if the 76 million tons of CO₂ presently emitted in Abu Dhabi and nearby could be stored using the “New- Generation” and the “Second-Generation” CO₂-EOR technologies, 152 billion AED could be annually added to the UAE’s economy.