Researchers demo production of kerosene using solar, water and CO2

In Germany, for the first time, the thermochemical production of kerosene using solar energy, water, and CO2 is demonstrated in a fully-integrated solar tower fuel plant. This work, realized within the framework of the EU Horizon 2020 project SUN-to-LIQUID, advances the technological readiness level of solar fuels production by demonstrating the technical feasibility of the entire sun-to-liquid fuel process chain. We have evaluated the performance of the solar reactor − the cornerstone technology − based on five primary metrics (namely: reaction selectivity, syngas quality, fuel purity, energy efficiency, and material stability) and experimentally validate its stable operation and full integration in the solar tower fuel plant. This pioneer technological demonstration, performed at a pilot scale relevant to industrial implementation, represents a critical milestone on the path towards the production of sustainable aviation fuels.