As the world grapples with the growing demand for energy alongside the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, energy efficiency has become one of the most critical challenges of the decade. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy demand increased by 2.2% in 2023, driven largely by population growth and industrial recovery after the pandemic slump. However, the same year saw global carbon emissions from energy reach a record high of 37.4 billion metric tons, underscoring the urgent need for smarter, cleaner, and more efficient energy solutions.
In this high-stakes environment, Emmanuella Onyinye Nwulu, a seasoned Cost Engineer and Electrical Engineer with Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), brings a wealth of practical expertise and research-driven solutions to the table. Nwulu’s combination of hands-on engineering experience in deepwater oil and gas projects and her extensive research contributions in process optimization, predictive maintenance, and asset management position her as a critical voice in solving this global challenge.
In a 2023 study co-authored by Nwulu, titled “Machine Learning Applications in Predictive Maintenance: Enhancing Efficiency across the Oil and Gas Industry”, the research highlighted how predictive analytics could reduce unplanned equipment failures by up to 35%, cutting down not only on costly shutdowns but also lowering energy waste associated with inefficient asset performance. This aligns with McKinsey & Company’s 2023 Energy Report, which emphasized that industrial energy efficiency could contribute up to 20% of the required emission reductions by 2030 if technologies like AI-driven predictive maintenance are adopted globally.
Nwulu also co-published a landmark paper in 2023 titled “Cost Savings and Safety Enhancement through Design Initiatives: A Global Review of Engineering Strategies in the Oil and Gas Sector”. The paper identified process automation and early hazard detection systems as underutilized tools that could deliver up to 15% operational efficiency gains in energy-intensive industries. These findings hold global significance, especially as the energy sector accounted for nearly 72% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In a conversation with this publication, Nwulu explained: “We cannot afford to treat energy efficiency as an afterthought. From the design phase of engineering projects to daily operations, we must embed efficiency and waste reduction into every decision. This means smarter designs, tighter cost control, and predictive maintenance—leveraging data to stay ahead of failures before they happen.”
Nwulu emphasized that the brownfield nature of many oil and gas facilities, particularly in developing regions like West Africa, exacerbates inefficiency. Older assets were not designed for modern efficiency standards, and retrofitting them without proper engineering foresight leads to energy leaks, process inefficiencies, and high operational costs. According to a 2023 World Bank report, aging infrastructure contributed to energy losses of up to 20% across Nigeria’s industrial sector, a worrying figure that reflects a global pattern in emerging economies.
To address these challenges, Nwulu recommends a three-pronged approach. First, oil and gas companies should invest in digital twins and real-time asset monitoring to continuously assess equipment health and energy performance. This technology, which tracks deviations from optimal performance, can reduce energy waste by 12%, according to Gartner’s 2023 technology forecast.
Second, from the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) stage, energy efficiency should be embedded as a primary design goal, not a compliance checkbox. By selecting energy-efficient equipment, designing for modular upgrades, and incorporating renewable energy sources where feasible, companies can cut lifecycle energy costs by 18%, as shown in a 2023 study by the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP).
Finally, efficiency isn’t just an engineering issue—it’s also a cost issue, a procurement issue, and a policy issue. Nwulu calls for integrated teams that include engineers, cost experts, environmental scientists, and data analysts to align on efficiency targets from project inception to decommissioning.
Despite her focus on the oil and gas industry, Nwulu believes her insights are scalable across sectors, from manufacturing to power generation. The 2023 Energy Efficiency Report by the World Economic Forum highlighted that efficiency measures could cut global energy use by 15% by 2030, a goal that hinges on engineering innovation, data analytics, and proactive asset management—all areas where Nwulu has demonstrated expertise.
As the world continues to confront the energy trilemma—balancing affordability, reliability, and sustainability—experts like Emmanuella Nwulu offer practical, research-backed solutions that could reshape global energy efficiency strategies. Her work stands as a clear example that the pathway to a cleaner future isn’t just through renewable energy, but also through getting smarter with the energy we already use.
