Decarbonising Steam: A Strategic Imperative for the Oil Refining Sector

Steam is the lifeblood of petroleum refineries, powering turbines, heating, and driving critical processes—yet generating it consumes up to 30% of a refinery's energy and accounts for roughly a third of its greenhouse gas emissions. Conventional steam production, reliant on fossil-fuelled boilers, is challenging to decarbonise without significant capital expenditures, and rarely yields meaningful emission reductions. With such a sizable environmental footprint, the pressing challenge is clear: how can refineries sustainably produce steam at scale? This article explores a compelling answer—concentrated solar thermal (CST)—and evaluates its potential to transform Colombia’s refinery sector, making efficiency and sustainability not just aspirational goals, but achievable realities.

1. Introduction

The European Union (EU) is navigating a transformative period in its energy landscape, driven by the urgent necessity to tackle climate change and ensure sustainable energy security. As the world increasingly recognizes the dangers of climate disruption, the EU has positioned itself at the forefront of global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and foster a clean energy transition. In line with the ambitious European Green Deal, which aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, the EU has set a bold target: achieving at least 42.5% renewable energy consumption by 2030, with aspirations to reach 45% [1]. Here's a concise summary of the current and upcoming trends in renewable energy demand and requirements across Europe. One of the upcoming requirements for Europe is the need to address seasonal variations in renewable energy production. Renewable sources, such as wind and solar, are inherently intermittent, leading to fluctuations in energy supply. This intermittency poses challenges to grid stability and energy security, especially during periods of low wind or solar generation. Converting offshore wind energy into hydrogen for storage can provide a flexible and reliable solution for energy supply, especially during periods when wind production is low or when demand peaks. Conveying current trends of renewable energy demand and upcoming trend requirements using Europe’s electricity base load with modular nuclear power plants, an Ultra High Voltage Transmission Line is used to transfer renewable energy long distances. Converting offshore wind production may concentrate on hydrogen storage in seas for upcoming seasonal issues caused by renewable energy, and finally Vertical Integration, Customer-centric, acquiring the energy from suppliers through Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs).