The major oil companies are researching and developing greater fuel efficiency and alternatives to fossil fuels or, in some cases, can help fossil fuels such as coal burn more cleanly.

Shell on its web site has a section devoted to what the company calls “energy diversity.” The company says Shell technology can turn coal into synthesis gas, which burns as cleanly as natural gas:

“Shell technology can now turn virtually any coal – even the lowest, dirtiest grades – into synthesis gas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide that burns as cleanly as natural gas. Synthesis gas has a direct market value because it can be used to produce a wide range of high-value products such as electricity, fertilizers, transport fuels and chemicals.”

Conoco Philips has energy initiatives and research with schools such as Penn State and the University of Iowa. Over two years ago, ConocoPhillips established an eight-year, $22.5 million research program at Iowa State University dedicated to developing technologies that produce biorenewable fuels.

The company and Penn State came up with the ConocoPhillips Energy Prize, a joint initiative to recognize new ideas and original, actionable solutions to help improve the way the nation develops and uses energy.

In 2009, the program will award up to $300,000 in cash prizes to further the development of innovative ideas and solutions in three areas:

    * Developing new energy sources, including new ways to develop alternative energy.
    * Improving energy efficiency, such as new methods to significantly reduce the amount of energy consumed in the United States.
    * Combating climate change, including solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Chevron, while it has its own statements about pursuing alternative energies and cleaner fuels also challenges visitors to its Web site with a game to provide power for a major metropolitan area. It’s called the Energyville game with the question “How will you power your city?” The game is based on current and projected energy demands up to 2015.

ExxonMobil has a series of Op-Ed pieces on its web site about energy usage and leading issues of the day. It highlights the need for research and development:

“Breakthrough technologies have helped keep pace with rising global energy demand by making more energy supplies available, while also reducing the environmental footprint of energy development.”

Exxon also has a section called “unconventional resources” highlighting the use of efficient ways to capture energy.

Wind is also a factor for the oil companies. BP Global has sold its wind farm in India while focusing the development of wind technology in the United States. BP has almost 100 wind projects in the United States.

Reviewing each of the web sites of Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil and BP it’s clear the companies are committed to researching and developing energies that convert fossil fuels into cleaner burning energy while pursuing the development of alternative energies.