C. Murphy
University of California, Davis,
United States
Keywords: petroleum, refineries, clean energy
Summary:
A broad transition to EVs in the U.S. would result in declining demand for petroleum fuels over the coming decades, which suggests that some petroleum refineries may no longer be economically viable to operate; this is beginning to occur in California. Petroleum refineries reflect massive capital investments, support large workforces with specialized skills, and are often major contributors to local economic activity. Redevelopment of refineries to other uses is possible, but slow and often challenging due to the environmental remediation that may be required. This presentation will discuss opportunities to leverage the existing capital and skills present at refineries to support the expansion of alternative fuel production, including biofuels or non-biological synthetic fuels, energy storage, chemical production, or other uses that support progress toward a more sustainable, low-emission energy system.