92%受访者认为含硫碳氢化合物在能源转型中发挥重要作用

据阿拉伯贸易网2023年6月28日阿布扎比报道，在日前召开的2023中东硫会议（MEScon）上参与调查问卷的92%的商业和技术领导者表示，含硫碳氢化合物在能源转型中发挥着重要作用。

此次会议由阿布扎比国家石油公司（Adnoc）主办，由全球大宗商品商业智能公司CRU和含硫碳氢化合物和硫专业咨询公司UniverSUL Consulting（UniverSUL）组织，会议讨论了硫行业面临的最紧迫的机遇和挑战。

人们普遍认为，含硫碳氢化合物将在能源转型中发挥重要作用，这标志着人们不再认为硫是碳氢化合物加工过程中的低价值副产品。

硫的作用

考虑到硫在农业中的作用，当被问及能源转型中含硫碳氢化合物的最大机遇时，49%的受访者认为硫可以供应给化肥行业，以支持人口增长和世界粮食供应的稳定，这或许并不令人意外。

但有趣的是，近四分之一（23%）的受访者表示，硫化氢可以作为生产氢气的原材料，最终可能成为替代化石燃料的重要手段。

UniverSUL总经理Angie Slavens评论道：“这一发现反映了行业内部对该事件的明确看法，以及行业所理解的现实。也就是说，硫将继续是我们未来的重要组成部分，从化肥到一般工业，再到电动汽车电池，各行各业都对硫有需求——所有这些都是确保公正能源转型的关键。鉴于中东地区将继续在硫供应中发挥越来越重要的作用，在中东举办此次会议至关重要。”

对硫的依赖

调查受访者认为市场对硫的依赖日益增加；70%的受访者认为，硫的长期短缺对世界的危害要大于长期供应过剩。有趣的是，84%的受访者无法想象未来全球硫供应不再由石油和天然气回收主导，因为目前石油和天然气占全球硫供应的95%以上。

CRU硫和硫酸业务首席分析师Peter Harrisson表示：“这一发现表明，未来几年行业将采取谨慎的平衡措施。”他补充说：“对硫的需求没有减弱的迹象。事实上，需求还在增加。尽管与此同时，全球对可再生能源的关注也在增加，这反过来又阻碍了硫的生产。为了确保这些可持续发展的努力继续下去，需要在效率和工艺方面进行投资，以降低当前油气生产的碳强度，同时探索新的工艺方案和技术，使硫进入市场的方式多样化。”

多个主题

2023MEScon会议探讨了多个主题，举办了小组讨论，海报展及专题报告，研讨会和技术展示，会议的主要主题包括： 

* 展望硫化氢在能源转型中的新价值

* 迈向硫的净零回收

* 对资产寿命和性能的操作考虑和设计创新

* 可持续地达到二氧化硫排放目标

此次会议在阿布扎比的康拉德阿提哈德大厦举行，吸引了来自23个国家89家公司超过650名与会者。下一次年会将于2024年5月举行。

李峻 译自 阿拉伯贸易网

原文如下：

92pc believe sour hydrocarbons have role in energy transition

Sour hydrocarbons have a role to play in the energy transition, according to 92% of business and technical leaders surveyed at The Middle East Sulphur Conference (MEScon) 2023.

Hosted by Adnoc and organised by global commodities business intelligence company CRU, and sour hydrocarbon and sulphur specialist consulting firm UniverSUL Consulting (UniverSUL), the conference debated the most pressing opportunities and challenges that lay ahead for the sulphur industry. 

The overwhelming sentiment that sour hydrocarbons will play an important role in the energy transition signals a departure from the perception of sulphur being a low-value by-product of hydrocarbon processing. 

Sulphur's role

When questioned as to the greatest opportunities for sour hydrocarbons in the energy transition, perhaps unsurprisingly, given sulphur’s role in the agriculture industry, 49% cited its supply to the fertiliser industry to support population growth and stabilisation of world food supply. 

Interestingly, nearly one quarter (23%) said H2S could serve as a raw material for the production of hydrogen, which may eventually become an important means of replacing fossil fuels in hard-to-abate industries.  

Angie Slavens, Managing Director at UniverSUL commented: “This finding reflects a clear perception from the event and a reality understood by the industry. That is, that sulphur will continue to be a vital part of our future, with its demand throughout a huge range of industries, from fertilisers to general industry to EV batteries – all key to ensuring a just energy transition. Hosting the event in the Middle East is essential, given the increasingly significant role the region will continue to play in sulphur supply.” 

Storage

Survey respondents pointed to an increasing reliance on sulphur, with 70% believing that a prolonged sulphur shortage would be more detrimental for the world than a prolonged oversupply. Interestingly though, 84% could not envision a future where global sulphur supply is not dominated by recovery from oil and gas, given currently it accounts for more than 95% of sulphur supply. 

“This insight exemplifies a careful balancing act that will unfold in the industry for years to come,” said Peter Harrisson, Principal Analyst for Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid at CRU. He added: “The demand for sulphur shows no sign of letting up. In fact, it is increasing. Though at the same time, so too are global efforts to uptick focus on renewable energy sources, which in turn hampers sulphur production. To ensure these sustainability efforts stay on course, investment is required in efficiencies and processes to lower carbon intensity of current oil and gas production, while exploring novel process schemes and technologies that will diversify how sulphur comes to market."

Multiple topics

MEScon 2023 explored multiple topics, hosting panel discussions, poster sessions/spotlights, workshops and technical showcases on key themes including: 

*Envisioning new value for H2S in the energy transition 

*Moving towards net zero in sulphur recovery 

*Operation considerations and design innovations for asset longevity and performance 

*Meeting SO2 emissions targets sustainably 

The event took place at the Conrad, Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, and welcomed more than 650 attendees from 89 companies and 23 countries. The annual conference will take place once again in May 2024.