Abstract
Abstract One possible near-term application for solar thermal technologies is the production of steam which could be pumped underground te increase the amount of petroleum which could be recovered from an oil field. This article compares two types of solar thermal technologies—solar troughs and central receivers—with conventional means of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) to determine, first, if solar technologies offer a viable EOR option and, second, how they compare with other steam-drive EOR alternatives. It analyzes these options from the technical, economic, institutional, and environmental perspectives. The paper concludes that solar EOR is, at present, not an economically attractive alternative, largely due to existing technical uncertaintities; possible environmental benefits do not appear to be a driving consideration; finally, tax incentives rather than government demonstration programs would seem to be the most effective means of encouraging solar EOR technology.
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