Building skills and capabilities in Carbon Capture and Storage

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has gone on record to state that by 2030, the potential carbon capture capacity across all global deployment is projected to be 60 Mt CO₂. While this number is well short of the target of 430 Mt. by 2050 (to meet net zero emissions goals), governments around the world are embracing these changes more than ever before. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has especially received attention, with plans to equip nearly 40 power plants with CCS globally announced last year.

Historically, some of the fundamental barriers to CCS projects have been the low cost of CO₂ emissions and lack of transport and storage infrastructure. Within this decade, however, as our global concerns for the climate increase, we would likely see an increasing level of deployment, and commercial readiness for CCS projects are likely to improve.

That kind of momentum would be a very welcome start. However, it can only be sustained with a skilled, capable workforce ready to take on the challenges of decarbonisation. Based on decades of experience in providing training to the global energy industry, we've identified two key factors that can help build these skills and capabilities in CCS.

1. An adaptable course catalogue for specific needs

Energy professionals come from various backgrounds, and their individual needs for training and building CCS capabilities can differ. For example, a reservoir and petroleum engineer is likely to have very different requirements compared to the needs of geologists and geophysicists. Similarly, project managers are not seeking the same knowledge as regulators. Each of these professions is different and may need a different approach. Organisations of several sizes and with distributed workforces across the world are also looking to effectively build CCS capabilities for their teams at scale.

To successfully train these individuals and organisations, providing a course catalogue that can cater to their needs is critical. Complete newcomers might need to begin with a solid start in CCS to help them bridge the gaps in their knowledge. Understanding the background technical and commercial information surrounding CCS is invaluable. Participants with experience in oil and gas or similar industries may not require this level of fundamental knowledge. They may find more insights in a specialist topic such as pressure-related CO₂ phase behaviour, reservoir diagenesis due to CO₂ injection, CO₂-specific geomechanical response, halite growth in saline brines etc., as well as conducting leakage assessment.

When RPS subject matter experts were planning course material in CCS, they wanted to maintain this healthy balance between individual learners' needs and organisations' requirements to build capability.

2. A blended approach to learning

At RPS, we have successfully employed blended learning as a method of training delivery for the oil and gas industry. Building our CCS courses on a similar modular approach across disciplines was a natural choice.

Blended learning means building knowledge through a combination of interactive online modules to develop skills for our students. Self-paced e-learning can first give participants a critical foundational knowledge of CCS. These modules can then be followed by instructor-led sessions, held virtually, within a classroom environment or in field-based workshops using scenario-based activities. Our expert instructors have diverse technical backgrounds and regional experiences, and their sessions focus on practical applications of skills.

Flexible and adaptable training options need to be at the heart of any training for CCS. Keeping an eye on learning outcomes throughout the training process is vital. Integrating knowledge in specific areas is as important as developing practical application of skills gained through coursework.

Blended learning also keeps the requirements and learning outcomes of an individual or an organisation in mind. CCS courses should be applicable to organisations or specific sectors with diverse disciplines, regardless of their size, and accessible to workforces wherever they may be distributed.

CCS projects are already featuring in many energy companies and organisations worldwide. We can only ensure a skilled and competent workforce through a significant expansion of high-quality training delivery.