Next* Magazine, Issue 4 - Chevron

Purpose-grown energy crops such as miscanthusare among the lignocellulosic feedstocks thatChevron is investigating as raw material for biofuels.‘The world is going toneed every moleculeand electron of energyfrom all sources.’as geothermal power and energy efficiency. The key is to find and develop those technologiesthat show promise not just in the laboratory but in the commercial marketplaceas well.”Global demand for oil is approaching 88 million barrels per day, according to a recentInternational Energy Agency (IEA) report. Indeed, from 2007 to 2030, demand for energyof all kinds is forecast to increase nearly 40 percent, as reported in IEA’s 2009 World EnergyOutlook. Fossil fuels will meet most of that new demand, but IEA forecasts that renewablescan increase their contribution in the years ahead.Chevron’s strategy“Renewables can play an important role in the world’s future energy mix if we can unlockthe secrets to providing them on a very large scale and at affordable prices,” said Des King,president of Chevron Technology Ventures, the company’s Center of Excellence for renewablesstrategy, research and development.As part of its major business strategies, Chevron seeks to integrate renewable energytechnologies into its business—including installing them at former operations sites—to improveits own operations, with a goal of reducing both costs and greenhouse gas emissions.Chevron funds research and alliances with universities and government research facilities,including the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, to evaluate,test and apply these technologies. The company is actively involved in developing selectedrenewables—such as biofuels—that could complement its established capabilities in refining andfuel distribution.PHOTO: NANCY DUNHAM30 | Next*