Chevron Redefines Itself by Testing Solar Technologies

On an 8-acre dirt plot, which used to be one of their old refineries pumping out gasoline and asphalt, the oil powerhouse Chevron will begin testing seven emerging photovoltaic technologies to add to their energy portfolio.The test site will be home to 7,700 solar panels. The seven different photovoltaic solar technologies represented will come from seven different solar companies that are in a position to manage the power demand for all of Chevron's worldwide operations. Of the seven technologies, six are thin-film technologies from Abound Solar, MiaSolé, Schüco, Solar Frontier, Sharp, and Solibro, and one is a crystalline-silicon photovoltaic technology from Innovalight. Chevron will monitor all of the panels to compare performance and cost versus output.With operations in 100 countries, Chevron officials say that they are looking for solar panels that are significantly affordable but still more reliable and efficient than other products.Ever since Chevron started monitoring their resource usage in 1992, they have been saving money by employing hydrogen fuel cells and solar technologies at their facilities. They have cut energy use by a third and have saved approximately $3 billion in energy. Des King, president of Chevron Technology Ventures, said “By bringing together seven emerging solar technologies, Project Brightfield represents one of the most comprehensive solar energy tests of its kind and is an innovative approach to evaluating new technologies. Testing competing technologies side by side means that we can better understand their potential application at other Chevron facilities.”Chevron Technology Ventures is a division that identifies, evaluates, and showcases emerging technologies.

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