Next* Magazine, Issue 4 - Chevron

Innovation ScoutsBringing Emerging Technologies to ChevronDesmond King, president of Chevron Technology Ventures, discusses theorganization’s unique role in Chevron’s technology strategy and some ofthe promising emerging technologies in its current portfolioKing: CTV’s goal is to evaluate all of thetechnologies to help determine the potentialThe Questa facility is being constructedoptions and make recommendations by theapplication of renewable power at otheron land that is part of an existing Chevron-end of 2012 as to how we can best fulfill ourcompany-owned facilities.owned mine, and it will supply carbon-freeadvanced biofuels obligations in the mostWe are using a former Chevron refin-power to the equivalent of about 300 resi-profitable way possible. Since 2006, we’veery site to test these technologies side bydents of Questa while we test the viability ofmade a tremendous amount of progressside—six thin-film technologies and oneCPV technology in a real-world application.evaluating many feedstocks and conversioncrystalline-silicon photovoltaic technology,technologies and have zeroed in on a handfulall by independent solar companies. TheNext*: How do you see CTV’s role inof each. Now we are working with com-power produced during the testing phasethe future?mercial partners to determine whether ourwill be directed to the local utility grid asKing: There will always be a need for newpreferred feedstock-conversion technologywell as used by our production operationstechnology at Chevron. Competitive pressurecombinations can be scaled up economicallyat the Kern River Field.and the necessity to be more efficient andto produce intermediates and finished prod-Our Questa solar project in Questa,more productive require that we be proactiveucts that qualify as advanced biofuels.New Mexico, is another example of usingin seeking new solutions.existing assets to demonstrate renew-In other words, we can’t rely on today’sNext*: What are some other interestingable technologies. When completed in thetechnology indefinitely. CTV plays a criticalareas in CTV’s portfolio?fourth quarter of 2010, Questa will be onerole in helping bring the future to ChevronKing: CTV is demonstrating advancedof the largest—if not the largest—installa-so that we can continue to deliver the energyPHOTO: HEMERA/THINKSTOCKsolar technologies and how they could beintegrated into our operations. In 2009, webegan Project Brightfield, a demonstration ofnext-generation solar energy technologies inBakersfield, California.Project Brightfield is evaluating sevenemerging, potentially low-cost photovoltaictions of concentrating photovoltaic (CPV)solar technology in the United States.CPV technology is more expensive butabout twice as efficient as traditional solarpower because the lenses used capture moreavailable sunlight, then concentrate it andmake it more powerful.the world needs and do it efficiently. I believethat will be as important 10, 20, 50 yearsfrom now as it is today. ■Next* | 35