Optimization of Enhanced Weathering Networks with P-Graph and Pinch Analysis

Enhanced weathering is a negative emissions technology (NET) that is based on application of crushed CO₂-reactive rocks on agricultural or marginal lands. Such rocks react with atmospheric CO₂ and water from rainfall to form products that dissolve in runoff, and ultimately result in final sequestration of carbon in bodies of water. Scale-up of enhanced weathering as a commercial NET will require coordination of rock quarrying, crushing, and application in a supply chain network. Optimization models will be needed to facilitate planning of such enhanced weathering networks; a basic linear programming (LP) formulation has been developed by Tan and Aviso (2019). In this work, two approaches based on P-graph and pinch analysis are proposed as alternatives to the LP model. These methods are applied on an illustrative case study.