Solar Thermochemical Production of Fuels

Abstract

High-temperature thermochemical processes efficiently convert concentrated solar energy into storable and transportable fuels. In the long run, H2O/CO2-splitting thermochemical cycles based on metal oxide redox reactions are developed to produce H2 and CO, which can be further processed to synthetic liquid fuels. In a transition period, carbonaceous feedstocks (fossil fuels, biomass, C-containing wastes) are solar-upgraded and transformed into valuable fuels via reforming, gasification and decomposition processes. The most promising solar thermochemical processes are discussed and the latest technological developments are summarized.