EMC Working Papers

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.

As climate change demands urgent action, this paper calls for a pragmatic energy transition—one that does not exclude the still essential oil & gas sector but integrates it with an abundant renewable power source. Rather than advocating for an abrupt end to hydrocarbons, it highlights the pivotal role both Independent Operators and National Oil Companies (NOCs) can play in accelerating decarbonisation by leveraging their infrastructure, expertise, and financial capacity.

The overlooked solar factor

Focusing on Colombia’s northern region, the study explores the integration of Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) technology into the country’s two petroleum refineries.

Although most global CST installations sit under very high direct normal irradiation (DNI), northern Colombia enjoys a moderate yet promising solar resource. To date, CST research in Colombia has focused on power generation or, in a few cases, steam for enhanced oil recovery. No study has specifically explored the use of concentrated solar heat for dedicated steam production in the oil refinery process. This research pioneers the application of CST to decarbonise downstream oil refining, bridging that research void.

Research Topics: Project Financing Climate Change and the Environment Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Energy Efficiency