Solar thermal technology near term impact on imported petroleum

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Energy Syst. Policy; (United States)

OSTI ID:6340592

Guth, M A.S.

The assumption that solar thermal technology (STT) penetration into the utility market significantly displaces petroleum imports is proved incorrect. After examining scenarios involving residual oil and distillates, it is concluded that utilities' use of STT would mainly displace residual oil; but because the supply and demand of residual oil is highly regionalized, oil displaced in the West would be more likely to be exported than used in the East. The East Coast currently imports over 713,000 barrels/day, while the West Coast exports over 63,000 barrels/day of residual oil. However, regional distillate requirements do not vary widely, so any STT displacement of distillates could directly reduce imports of distillate oil. STT displacement of distillate fuel would account for only a small fraction (1.2 percent) of total national consumption of distillate, or about 1,300 barrels/day. Therefore, STT would not significantly reduce the level of imported petroleum in the United States.

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
• OSTI ID: 6340592
• Journal Information: Energy Syst. Policy; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Syst. Policy; (United States) Vol. 8:1; ISSN ESYPB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

051000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140700* -- Solar Thermal Power Systems
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
DISTILLATES
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL OILS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
FUELS
IMPORTS
LIQUID FUELS
NORTH AMERICA
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DISTILLATES
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POWER PLANTS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESIDUAL FUELS
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA