Abstract: Saudi Arabia plans to shift a large portion of its domestic energy production away from fossil fuel towards solar energy by 2030. Yet, the solar energy pool is mainly targeting photovoltaic technology. This study analyzes the potential of cleaner energy...
Susan Kraemer
Published at Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis – Biochar pyrolyzed with concentrated solar radiation for enhanced nitrate adsorption
Abstract: Biochar has been recognized as an effective soil amendment for reducing nitrogen leaching in agriculture, but its large-scale implementation is impeded by the costly production process due to high energy requirements for thermal decomposition of feedstock....
Published at International journal of Hydrogen Energy – H2 producing hybrid solar thermochemical ZnSO4/ZnO water splitting cycle: Thermodynamic efficiency analysis
Abstract: This investigation reports the thermodynamic efficiency analysis of a hybrid ZnSO4/ZnO water-splitting cycle. The data required for efficiency calculations are gathered from HSC Chemistry Software. The prime goal is to examine the effects of the thermal...
Published at Energy Reports – Chemical and thermal performance analysis of a solar thermochemical reactor for hydrogen production via two-step WS cycle
Abstract: Ceria-based H2O/CO2-splitting solar-driven thermochemical cycle produces hydrogen or syngas. Thermal optimization of solar thermochemical reactor (STCR) improves the solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency. This research presents two conceptual designs and...
GlassPoint redesign directly heats storage, cutting solar steam cost 30%
Press Release: GlassPoint Unveils Technology Advancements Reducing Solar Steam Costs by 30% The new "Unify" storage system and redesigned structure enable lower-cost, zero-carbon, 24/7 industrial heat for the only solar steam solution proven at scale NEW YORK,...
India’s next renewables tender carves out 50% for CSP
In the first quarter of 2024, India plans to put out a tender for renewable energy that includes not just a carve-out, but the largest ever, requiring over 50% to be supplied by Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), the thermal form of solar electricity. There is renewed...
Published at Solar Energy – Investigation of physico-mechanical, thermal properties and solar thermoregulation performance of shape-stable attapulgite based composite phase change material in foam concrete
Abstract Thermal energy storage (TES) by means of phase change materials (PCM) is of great concern to decrease heating and cooling loads. In building envelopes, one of the most efficient TES methods is integration of PCMs with construction materials for preventing...
Published at Solar Energy – A feasibility study on the application of mesh grids for heliostat wind load reduction
Abstract This study examines the effectiveness of mesh grids in heliostat field perimeter fences and edge-mounted devices for heliostat wind load reduction. Two experimental studies were conducted: (1) the effect of mesh porosity and non-dimensional longitudinal...
DEWA inaugurates its 700 MW trough and Tower CSP project for Dubai
The world’s largest concentrated solar power (CSP) project was inaugurated in Dubai on Wednesday as part of the fourth phase of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. With a total investment of $4.3 billion (AED15.78 billion), the fourth phase covers an area...
Published at International Journal of Hydrogen Energy – Performance of biogas blended with hydrogen in a commercial self-aspirating burner
Abstract: A natural gas and carbon dioxide fuel mixture was enriched by hydrogen to experimentally measure the performance of a hydrogen and surrogate biogas fuel. The performance of various biogas qualities and hydrogen blend ratios was investigated for use in a...
Game-changing Sun-to-Liquid: Fuels from Concentrated Sunlight launches II
Round II of Sun-to-Liquid is launched: This initiative will demonstrate the scalability and high efficiency of producing sustainable synthetic fuel from CO2, water, and sunlight. Synhelion is one of the industry partners for the project, providing the expertise for...
Solar fuels efficiency increase from MIT – use multiple reactors
The system as a whole resembles a train of box-shaped reactors running on a circular track. In practice, this track would be set around the solar thermal source. MIT engineers aim to produce totally green, carbon-free hydrogen fuel with a new, train-like system of...
Published at Journal of Energy Storage – Human ear inspired solar thermochemical reactor for steam methane reforming with the consideration of minimum Gibbs free energy principle
Abstract The non-uniformity temperature field of direct solar thermochemical reactors severely decreases the energy conversion efficiency of solar-to-fuel. Inspired by the physical mechanism by which the human ear can collect more sound waves, associating the...
Published at Applied Energy – A novel high-efficiency solar thermochemical cycle for fuel production based on chemical-looping cycle oxygen removal
Abstract Solar-driven two-step thermochemical cycling is a promising means to convert solar energy into storable and transportable chemical fuel, in which hydrogen or carbon monoxide is generated by continuous reduction and oxidation reactions. However, the high...
3D-printed ceria is a game-changer to increase solar fuel efficiency
In solar reactors for making solar fuels at high temperatures, ceria's behavior when heated makes it state-of-the-art for unlocking the thermochemistry involved. (How solar fuels are made). But its structure lacks “intelligent design.” So a precisely controlled design...
Published at Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews – Massive grid-scale energy storage for next-generation concentrated solar power: A review of the potential emerging concepts
Abstract The cost of renewable energy has significantly decreased in recent years, which marks the way towards a fully renewable and sustainable future. However, this energy transition is not possible without massive grid-scale energy storage technology since most of...
Methane pyrolysis with liquid metals in a bubble column reactor to generate green hydrogen and carbon
Using a bubble column reactor at Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, the Liquid Metal Laboratory team is working on producing hydrogen from methane, the cheapest method, but without CO2 emissions - the problem with the cheapest method. The main product, besides...
US DOE announces nine heliostat prize semi-finalists
The American-Made Heliostat Prize is a $3 million competition designed to accelerate technology innovation through the design, development, and demonstration of key components of heliostats. Heliostats are devices that tilt mirrors to track the sun and reflect...
Future-oriented climate planning led to China prioritizing CSP
Recently, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the first batch of methodologies for four voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction projects: afforestation carbon sequestration, grid-connected solar thermal power generation, grid-connected offshore wind...
Published at Chemical Energy Journal Advances – Experimental study on the kinetics of magnesium carbonate calcination under elevated heating rates
Abstract: This paper reports an experimental investigation into the kinetics of magnesium carbonate calcination, conducted using a broad spectrum of heating rates (0.1°C/s to 179.9°C/s) in an air environment for a thin layer bed with Biot number < 0.1. These...
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