In a move that has environmentalists caught in a state of confusion as to whether the idea should be cautiously congratulated or thoroughly condemned (or something in between), Chevron Corp has teamed up with BrightSource Energy to build a solar thermal plant in California that will help extract oil from an aging oil field. The Coalinga field has had over than 90 percent of its oil extracted since its discovery in 1890.
The solar farm will utilise sunlight reflected from over 7,000 mirrors, directed and focused on a 98-meter tower where water will be boiled. The steam will then be injected into wells to heat up heavier oil, lowering its viscosity and allowing it to be more easily retrieved. Usually this steam injection is powered by natural gas.
In a report from Reuters, Chevron said work on the Coalinga plant would commence this year, with production projected to start by the end of 2010. The installation will be the first of its kind and if successful, the concept will then be applied to other fields.
Chevron is no stranger to solar power – in fact the company claims its Chevron Energy Solutions subsidiary is the nation’s “largest installer of solar energy for education institutions”.
Many oil companies were recently attempting to re-brand themselves as energy companies and pouring substantial investment into renewable energy. However, most of them have done an about face, winding down investments and fleeing back to the arms of fossil fuel.
Chevron’s move has been seen by some as striking somewhat of a middle ground in reducing the environmental impact of oil extraction and production while continuing forays into renewable energy technology development; by others, purely as a PR exercise that only further feeds the world’s addiction to oil.
