Refineries add energy storage

How can new technologies improve refinery efficiency?

Several new technologies also have the potential to increase refinery efficiency. These include new heat-recovery methods, low-emission furnaces, separation membranes, alternative uses for fuel gas, and the storage of thermal energy.

How can a refinery make significant gains in business-as-usual activities?

Refineries can make significant gains in their business-as-usual activities through the optimization of their plants and reduction of the gas, steam, and power needed to operate them, and by implementing a new energy sourcing strategy to lower the cost of energy inputs.

What makes a good refinery?

The best refineries in the world are not only about the hardware, with capacities around 380,000 barrels per day. They are also about the “software”—a high-performance culture that emphasizes continuous improvement, reliability, energy efficiency, innovation and technology.

What makes a refiner adaptable?

For refiners, adaptability entails having a robust long-term strategy that clearly states the company’s role in the energy transition, while charting a clear course for excellence in the key aspects of the business. Refiners must look beyond maximizing profits.

Do refinery owners have a strategic role in their portfolio?

As the cost of refining fossil fuels grows and the pressure on margins ramps up, refinery owners must decide on the strategic role of each refinery in their portfolio and how best to position them for the future.

How much electricity does a refinery need?

This requires 3 mol of H 2 per mol of C entering the refinery, which translates into 2.4 kt (or 1.2 × 10 9 mol) H 2 per day. H 2 will be produced from electrolysis. This requires 5.5 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, which is to be generated from both wind power and solar photovoltaics (PV) to solve intermittency issues.