Fuels and Chemicals via Thermal Processes from Solar Resources

Abstract

Thermochemical multistep processes are promising options to face future energy problems, in particular in transport. Such reactions can be used to enhance the availability of solar energy in terms of energy transport, of energy demand/supply management and of potential energy related applications. Coupling concentrated sunlight to suitable sequences of thermochemical reaction enables the production of hydrogen, syngas and other fuels and chemicals derived from those precursors by water- and CO2-splitting as well as the storage of solar energy by breaking and forming chemical bonds in suitable reversible reactions. These processes are sustainable and environmentally attractive since only abundant resources like water, CO2, air and solar power are used as “feedstock”. All other materials involved are recycled within the process. The concentrated solar energy is converted into storable and transportable chemicals and fuels. One of the major barriers to technological success of many of those processes is the identification of suitable active materials like catalysts and redox materials exhibiting satisfactory durability, reactivity, selectivity, and efficiency. Furthermore, materials play an important role in the construction of key components of the respective high-temperature processes and for the implementation in commercial solar plants. Besides materials aspects also process engineering tasks need to be tackled. One of the most striking challenges is to couple an intermittent energy source to a chemical process while keeping it practical and reliable. Some prominent and promising examples of thermochemical processes are being described and discussed with respect to further development and future potential. The main challenges of those processes are being analyzed. Technical approaches and development progress in terms of solving them are addressed and evaluated with respect to their future potential.