Repsol Sinopec to develop digital twin in Brazil

Repsol Sinopec Brasil has entered into a strategic partnership with technology firm Radix and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) to develop an interactive virtual replica of a direct air capture (DAC) unit installed in Porto Alegre. Dubbed the “DAC Twins” project, the initiative is being carried out as part of the research, development, and innovation (RDI) commitments required by Brazil’s hydrocarbon regulator, ANP.

The virtual environment will reproduce the real-time operations of a physical DAC reactor designed to capture 15 tonnes of CO₂ annually. By utilizing a hybrid approach that integrates traditional physicochemical models with machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms, Radix will build a system capable of highly accurate simulations. The virtual environment will function as a digital laboratory, enabling engineers to test operational scenarios, predict equipment failures, and assess technology expansion strategies safely before deployment at the physical plant.

This carbon capture project marks another major energy digitalization milestone for Radix, building on its extensive portfolio in the oil and gas sector. The company previously signed a R$10mn agreement with ExxonMobil Brazil to develop advanced AI drilling solutions and engineered the remote-control integration for Eneva’s Gavião Belo production station. This latest DAC project coincides with a broader push for digital twin technology in Brazil’s energy sector, mirroring separate structural and corrosion monitoring initiatives currently being co-developed by Petrobras and the Recife Center for Advanced Studies and Systems (CESAR).