AI Insight
The study develops plant-level decarbonization pathways for oil refineries worldwide, mapping out the mitigation costs associated with reducing greenhouse gas emissions across individual facilities. By analyzing refineries at the asset level, the research identifies cost-effective technology options such as carbon capture and storage, electrification, and hydrogen integration, and quantifies the investment required for each pathway. The findings provide a granular cost curve for the global refining sector, revealing significant heterogeneity in abatement costs depending on refinery size, location, and existing infrastructure.
Why it matters
Oil refineries are among the largest industrial emitters of CO2, and this plant-level analysis enables policymakers and investors to prioritize decarbonization efforts where they are most cost-effective, supporting more realistic industrial climate strategies aligned with net-zero targets.
Source: Plant-level decarbonization pathways and mitigation costs of global oil refineries