Que: How is ExxonMobil contributing towards the alternate energy industry?

Ans: ExxonMobil is committed to playing a leading role in energy transition, consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Globally, we established our Low Carbon Solutions (LCS) business in early 2021, leveraging our unique combination of capabilities in geophysical expertise and complex project management. LCS is focusing on reducing emissions from ExxonMobil’s own operations and products, while also leveraging the skills, knowledge and scale of the corporation to commercialize low-carbon opportunities for broad deployment around the world, including carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen and low-emission fuels.

Demand for low-emission fuels is expected to grow rapidly, driven by the need for energy-dense, lower-carbon fuels transportation such as aviation, marine and heavy-duty trucking. So we are focusing on growing our lower-emission fuels business by leveraging current technology and infrastructure, in addition to continuing research in advanced biofuels that could provide improved longer-term solutions through upgrading lower-value bio-based feedstock.

Que: Shed some light on ExxonMobil’s innovations in powering energy plants and enabling clean energy generation.

Ans: As an industry leader, Mobil™ Lubricants has been working closely with power plant manufacturers to support their equipment performance and provide quality care. Our Mobil DTE™ 700 turbine oils, for example, meet or exceed 17 industry and equipment builder specifications for gas and steam turbines. Further, the Mobil™ DTE 932 GT has been designed for bearing lubrication and keep-clean hydraulic servo valve performance. The Mobil SHC™ 800 Series oils are also providing long-life protection and high-temperature resistance. Similarly, the Mobil SHC™ 600 Series and Mobil SHC™ Gear Series lubricants are exceptional performance gear and bearing oils that have auxiliary applications in cooling towers and pulverizers where it provides productivity benefits including energy efficiency gains. To help monitor oil and equipment conditions, and avoid unscheduled maintenance, we also offer Mobil ServSM Lubricant Analysis (MSLA). We provide product recommendations, and our Mobil ServSM Turbine Commissioning Service can help prepare turbine lubrication systems, steam turbine oil and gas turbine oil for timely startup and reliable operation after an overhaul or for a new installation.

Que: Being one of the major players in the lubrication industry in India, how’s your experience in serving the energy industry? What scope do you see here?

Ans: India’s power plants today are in urgent need of augmenting output and enhancing efficiency to aid the country’s energy-transition journey. Let me share an example of Mobil’s association with Quippo Energy Pvt. Ltd., operating more than 25 gas engines for power generation. Quippo Energy is a leading power generation company based out of Delhi. Despite adequate monitoring, engines at Quippo were experiencing high component wear and a short oil drain interval (ODI) of 2,000 hours. After conducting thorough studies, our FES team recommended the use of Mobil Pegasus™ 1005, a high-performance gas engine oil, resulting in reduced waste oil disposal by 9,646 litres. Moreover, due to excellent oil retention, the ODI too was extended by 50% to 3,000 hours, resulting in reduced frequency of oil filter replacement and annual savings of USD 22,319. The energy industry today is on a rejuvenated drive to bring more efficiency in operations. Here, choosing the right lubrication can bring a visible difference to business performance.

Que: How much potential do you see in the wind energy market in the backdrop of other emerging clean energy alternatives available in India?

Ans: Wind power generation capacity in India has significantly increased in recent years. As of November 2021, the total installed wind power capacity was 40 GW, the fourth largest installed in the world. India further aims to achieve 67 GW of wind power capacity by 2022, demanding support in technology and lubrication needs. The country’s 7,500 km coastline provides rich ground for the country to expand its wind capacity even further. A mix of wind, hydro, natural gas, hydrogen, battery, etc., can pave the way for a hybrid system and help advance India’s energy transition. So wind is likely to play a key role, especially in compensating for lean periods of low sunlight, as we experience in the monsoons. Therefore, development in the wind energy market is imminent and essential.

Que: What are the key lubrication needs of the wind industry?

Ans: For efficiency in the wind industry, the smooth performance of turbines is critical. Today, there is greater diversity in the nature of turbines, their design and specific lubrication and maintenance requirements. Here, lubricants play a fundamental role in ensuring continuity, reducing downtime and curtailing breakdown. Quality industrial lubricants, wind turbine lubrication services and application expertise can enhance long wind turbine lubrication intervals, minimize unscheduled maintenance, and enhance equipment life and productivity. At Mobil, we have been innovating to deliver optimum equipment protection and oil performance in a wide range of conditions, including onshore, offshore, dry or wet, and at high or low temperatures to ensure that turbines keep running at peak efficiency. Our lubricants are today used in more than 40,000 wind turbines globally. Wind installation sites are often located in remote areas where conducting regular maintenance work is difficult. Further, the turbines themselves are precariously located, which often makes them inaccessible – adding to challenges. Thus, quality lubrication is a prerequisite for successful wind turbine operations.

Que: What kind of technical challenges did you face while serving specifically to the wind industry?

Ans: For continuous power plant performance, a variety of product requirements along with servicing demands must be fulfilled. To help reduce environmental fallouts in power plant operations, the Mobil SHC™ Gear 320 WT comes with significantly long drain intervals that can help lower maintenance costs and downtime while enhancing turbine availability and production. With an offer warranty for ten years, this is the first wind turbine gear oil proven to not contribute to the oil-related effects of white etching cracks (WEC). It has received a ‘design evaluation’ certification by DNV-GL, in recognition of the lubricant’s in-service performance, demonstrating that it does not contribute to the oil-related effects of WEC. With 60% of wind turbine gearbox failures attributed to WEC, it is a serious issue that can result in costly maintenance and lost productivity. Additionally, the Mobil SHC™ Grease 461 WT comes with exceptional wear protection under fretting corrosion conditions helps reduce maintenance and unplanned equipment shutdowns.

Que: What kind of policies could help in accelerating efforts to achieve net-zero emission goals?

Ans: The Indian government is working through options to lay out the pathway to net-zero. What is clear is that given India’s focus on renewables, natural gas, biofuels and green hydrogen – these cleaner energy sources will play a long-term role in the country’s energy transition. Greater focus on the hard-to-decarbonize industrial, power generation and commercial transportation sectors, which cause the majority of emissions, will also be helpful. Emissions in these three high-emitting sectors need to be addressed to enable a lower-carbon energy future. Promising technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) can be an effective solution, and they can be deployed now with supportive policies. Therefore, enabling supporting policy mechanisms is critical. Further, an established carbon price would enable all technologies to compete cost-effectively to lower carbon intensity while delivering meaningful emission reductions. In the absence of economy-wide carbon pricing, well-designed sector-based policy options could also be an effective way to reduce emissions.



(Exxon Mobil Corporation has numerous affiliates, many with names that include ExxonMobil, Exxon, Esso and Mobil. For convenience and simplicity, those terms and references to “corporation”, “company”, “ExxonMobil”, “EM”, and other similar terms are used for convenience and may refer to one or more specific affiliates or affiliate groups.)