Solar Thermal Hybridization of Utility Steam Systems in Oil and Gas Facilities With CST, A Solution for Decarbonization

Abstract

The Hybridization of steam utility systems in oil and gas facilities with concentrated solar technology (CST) has been an untapped area for Decarbonization. The high capex involved with with high-reliability risk perception, has prevented these solutions from being implemented, even at the pilot level. However, as environmental policies are affirmed, deploying these solutions can become a reality, tangibly demonstrating the technology’s performance and reliability. The result of a Solar Thermal Technology (STT) Integration is a master/slave configuration where the solar-based steam replaces a portion of the existing boiler system production, decreasing the fuel cost for the industrial facility. This paper discusses some techno-economic aspects related to the Hybridization of utility steam systems with an CST. It also presents an optimization tool described as Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Optimization, which is applied to an existing steam network in preparation for a solar thermal technology integration simulation. A sensitivity analysis on the NPV is done based on a range of capex, fuel prices, and Decarbonization revenues to help understand these variables’ impact on the overall economic feasibility.