A method for reducing energy requirements of a CO2 capture system comprises: contacting a flue gas stream with a CO2 lean absorbent stream in an absorber, thereby removing CO2 from the flue gas and providing a CO2 rich absorbent stream; heating a first portion of the CO2 rich absorbent stream using heat from the CO2 lean absorbent stream, and providing the heated first portion of the CO2 rich absorbent stream to a regenerator; providing a second portion of the CO2 rich absorbent stream to the regenerator, wherein the heated first portion is hotter than the second portion and the heated first portion is provided to the regenerator at a lower elevation in the regenerator relative to that of the second portion.