AVEVA software helps Airbridge transform carbon emissions into high-value commodities

AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software driving digital transformation and sustainability, has partnered with Airbridge, an Australian innovator in a breakthrough technology that converts carbon emissions into essential global commodities to accelerate the net-zero economy. The commodities include fertiliser, calcium carbonate and fuel additives, among others.

AVEVA’s Process Simulation solution has been implemented in a pilot project for Airbridge’s Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) patented technology. The AVEVA software is used to create an accurate pilot data-model of Airbridge’s new carbon conversion facility, including a detailed electrolyte thermodynamic feature that enables its team to predict chemical reactions accurately. Airbridge can also simulate the Chemical process cycles to predict CO₂ recovery. This CO₂ can then be repurposed into high-demand, high-value commoditised products for use in industries such as agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.

Sustainability impact from edge-to-enterprise

Airbridge also deploys two other AVEVA solutions. AVEVA Edge unifies project process data at scale from multiple sources, enabling Airbridge to cost-effectively monitor operations of its patented reactor. This data is organised and visualised in AVEVA Insight, where Airbridge’s teams can monitor and analyse asset peformance, collaborating in real-time in the cloud. AVEVA Insight will support Airbridge in sharing data and demonstrating its capabilities to investors, industrial partners and  government organisations.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Airbridge and extending CCUS capabilities by using our software to help commercialise innovation and make decarbonisation a reality for many industries,” said Emon Zaman, Asia Pacific Senior Vice President, at AVEVA. “The business world has a responsibility to work towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions and we have the technology to do so. Our collaboration enables Airbridge to share its CCUS capabilities with a wide array of industries and to accelerate business efforts towards achieving net-zero emissions, while paving the way for deeper research and development in sustainable applications.”

Stephen McGurk, Chief Executive Officer at Airbridge, said: “With the help of AVEVA’s software portfolio, Airbridge aspires to making a global impact on the health of our planet at an industrial scale. Our solution prevents CO₂ from entering our vulnerable atmosphere and creates essential commodities such as fertiliser to better feed the world”.

Deriving value from the air to support net zero

Airbridge is positioning to be more than a carbon-capture company. It aims to partner with companies in some of the world’s largest emitting industries to effect measurable environmental change. By turning industries’ biggest challenge – carbon emissions – into their greatest opportunity, Airbridge will enable companies to drive competitive advantages while reducing the carbon impacts on the environment.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), CCUS is vital to the transition to a carbon-free future. It is one of the technology options that industries can use to reduce direct emissions.

Within Australia alone, the government committed to a $50 million CCUS Development Fund in 2021, benefiting several opportunities including carbon recycling, negative emissions/direct air capture, and carbon capture and storage. Since 2017, strategies for more than 30 new integrated CCUS facilities have been announced globally, in the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and China. If all these projects come to fruition, global CO₂ capture capacity could more than triple to around 130 metric tons per year, according to the IEA.