Solar Power Put to New Use: Drilling for Oil

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A solar energy tower in Spain. The mirrors focus light onto the top of the top of the tower, where water is boiled to steam. The water can be superheated to up to 260 degrees Celsius, or 500 degrees Fahrenheit

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The use of steam to aid petroleum production is old hat—it’s a well-known technique called “ cyclic steam injection.” What’s new is the use of solar power to produce the steam. Traditionally, steam is generated by burning natural gas or other fossil fuels. The main impediment to using solar thermal to produce steam is the comparatively low cost of natural gas. At present, it’s at a seven-year low, with gas futures below $3 per million BTUs. One study estimated that solar steam would normally require natural gas prices at $8.50 per million BTUs to be cost competitive

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In the future, the Middle East—with huge, open areas baking under blistering sunlight—may be another logical place for solar steam systems to make oil production more efficient. As with any new oil extraction technology, the widespread use of thermal solar power to drive steam injection could significantly boost crude oil supplies in coming years, which could help push down the price of heating oil