Aramco’s Ambitious Climate Initiatives: Lower-Carbon Hydrogen, Direct Air Capture, CO2 Sequestration, and Geothermal Energy

Aramco, a prominent global energy and chemicals company, is advancing multiple emissions reduction initiatives to address climate change and achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s 2060 net-zero goal. These projects were announced during MENA Climate Week 2023:

1. Lower-Carbon Hydrogen: Aramco is finalizing an engineering agreement with Topsoe to construct a lower-carbon hydrogen demonstration plant at the Shaybah Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) recovery plant in Saudi Arabia. This facility is expected to produce six tons of hydrogen per day using electrified steam reforming of hydrocarbons powered by renewable electricity, while capturing and sequestering the resulting CO2.
2. Direct Air Capture (DAC): Aramco is partnering with Siemens Energy to develop a DAC test unit in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. This unit will have the capacity to capture up to 12 tons of CO2 annually, with plans to pave the way for a larger pilot plant capable of capturing 1,250 tons of CO2 per year, scheduled for completion in 2024.
3. Novel CO2 Sequestration: Aramco has successfully piloted a CO2 sequestration approach using mineralization in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. This method involves dissolving CO2 in water and injecting it into volcanic rocks, resulting in a permanent conversion of CO2 into carbonate rocks. The pilot involved collaboration between Aramco and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, with the development of innovative technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
4. Geothermal Energy: Aramco is exploring the expansion of its renewable energy portfolio through geothermal energy. The company has identified and mapped three potential geothermal resource areas on the west coast of Saudi Arabia. These areas will undergo further assessment to determine the extent of geothermal resources.