Thermochemical Processes for Fuels and Chemical Commodities

Abstract

Chemical energy carriers will play an essential role in the energy system of the future. The advantages of comparable power density and reliability to fossil fuels, as well as their versatile applications, make them an important component of the energy transition. Our research group is developing technologies that ensure the efficient production of chemical energy carriers and chemical commodities from renewable resources while allocating emphasis on the closure of the carbon-cycle. Thermochemical multistep processes are promising options, in particular related to the transport sector and to chemical industry. Such processes can be used to enhance the availability of solar energy in terms of potential energy related applications. 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 with satisfactory durability, reactivity, and efficiency. One of the most striking challenges is to couple solar thermal energy to a chemical process while keeping it practical and reliable. 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.