A multinational oil and gas company develops a clean energy data modeling tool.
SITUATION
Our client wanted to develop a clean energy digital model solution that will help companies achieve their low carbon aims in the pursuit of a net-zero carbon industry as part of our client’s larger effort to support clean energy initiatives. One of the biggest challenges preventing decarbonization within the heavy manufacturing industrial sector is related to data quality and access to emissions-related data. To solve this problem, our client wanted to start with a simulation use case for manufacturing process emissions for the cement industry. Apex partnered with the client to develop a pilot for the program based on existing elements of the energy system in the American Midwest. The base of this project was an Azure-based architecture consisting of a web application, API layer, data repository, and calculation engine. The client needed Apex’s help setting up a strong scalable database model to accurately measure carbon intensity.
Developed and delivered pilot application within 4.5 months
Our team started off with a limited scope, no infrastructure, and no database. We worked closely with client stakeholders to produce the model. Using Azure DevOps methodologies, our team designed and implemented a ReactJS-based web application to facilitate uploading and validating data into the database. They built the entire data model platform including UI, function apps, security, user capture, and database setup. They used Azure SQL PaaS to integrate the customer and EPA datasets. Our team also built emission calculation engines related to scope 1 and 2 emission models. We overcame challenges in changes of scope with extensive discussions with stakeholders and additional EPA and greenhouse gas research leads to build a robust, scalable, and reusable emission calculation engine. As part of the program, we set up and configured the Azure platform and enabled AAD authentication.
RESULTS
Apex’s team was able to deliver a reusable emission calculation engine for our client that allows users to calculate and visualize emissions in real-time and to model and forecast carbon optimization scenarios for scope 1 and 2 emissions. Further, it will connect resource and energy consumers and providers, which will allow them to unlock decarbonization beyond what is currently possible within their own company borders. Due to our success in the program, the client is expanding our involvement to customize the solution for customers in the steel industry.
