In concentrated solar thermal (CST) energy collection using parabolic trough-shaped mirrors, the heat from the sun is captured by aiming its reflection from a parabolic trough-shaped mirror onto a thin tube at its central focal point. This thin tube contains a fluid...
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Published at Applied Thermal Engineering – Analysis of thermal and mechanical properties with inventory level of the molten salt storage tank in central receiver concentrating solar power plants
Abstract: Molten salt thermal energy storage (TES) tanks ensure steady power output of concentrating solar power (CSP) plants; however, recent tank failures have highlighted the need for further analysis. Current studies primarily focus on analyzing the molten salt...
Webinar: Securing funding from research to project development stages – promoting project leadership diversity
Webinar - Securing funding from research to project development stages: promoting diversity in project leadership December 3rd at 8h PST / 11h EST / 17h CET (Check your local time) | Duration: 1h Register at ATA (LinkedIn) Join us for an empowering webinar in...
3D-Printed solar receiver of honeycomb mesh to spread heat evenly
A 3D-Printed solar receiver could solve some problems holding back a new technology: High-temperature solar receivers - for solar thermochemistry and industrial heat - can be prone to uneven heat distribution. These temperature differences create thermal stress,...
Published at Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews – Sources of solar tracking errors and correction strategies for heliostats
Abstract Heliostat fields represent the primary energy input for concentrating solar-thermal power based on power tower technology. They typically account for 40 %–50 % of the implementation cost of a power tower plant. Therefore, it is essential to optimize the solar...
Published at Journal of Solar Energy Engineering – Heliostat Consortium: Gap Analysis on State of the Art in Wind Load Design
Abstract: Wind loads are a major driver of heliostat cost. Standardized methods and tools are needed for a more detailed understanding of the static and dynamic loads of a heliostat design. This will enable cost reduction of wind-dependent heliostats to avoid...
Lowest cost of heat for modular sodium CSP? A “Billboard” solar receiver with a “Cartesian” heliostat layout
High-temperature liquid sodium receivers able to run at over 700°C may allow use of modular multi-tower system configurations similar to that being developed by the Australian concentrated solar firm Vast for next-generation sodium-based concentrating solar power...
Aussi petcare firm taps both solar technologies for industrial heat
Mars petcare factory to tap sunlight for CST heat plus leverage Victoria's world-leading renewable grid to electrically heat thermal energy storage. Press Release - ASTRI: Industrial decarbonisation in Australia took a major step forward today after Mars and...
Published at Solar Compass – A critical perspective and analysis of two-step thermochemical fuel production cycles
Abstract: Two-step thermochemical fuel production cycles powered using concentrating solar systems offer a route to convert solar energy to chemical fuels. In this work, we offer a critical assessment of the state of the art, a detailed technical analysis of this...
Published at Applied Thermal Engineering – Investigations of inlet arrangement strategies and particle parameters on thermochemical performance in falling particle solar reactors
Abstract: The reformation of methane to hydrogen and steam in a falling particle solar reactor (FPSR) is a promising method to use the solar energy, which converts solar energy into chemical energy. FPSR has higher operation temperature, higher pressure bearing...
Published at Applied Thermal Engineering – Proposal of a novel solar-driven thermochemical reactor for green hydrogen production using helical flow channels
Abstract: The reactor is the core component of the hydrogen production system. Although hydrogen production using solar energy as the heat source can effectively reduce carbon emissions, the reactor faces the problem of uneven heating caused by the collector, and the...
Dr. Aldo Steinfeld and Dr. Manuel Romero win the 2024 SolarPACES Lifetime Achievement Award
Manuel Romero and Aldo Steinfeld receive the SolarPACES Lifetime Achievement Award from Robert Pitz-Paal On the closing day of the SolarPACES 2024 conference in Rome, Aldo Steinfeld and Manuel Romero were jointly awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition...
Hot solar hydrogen reactors on a conveyor belt get a fast study
MIT's Heat-based solar hydrogen from a train of solar reactors boasts 70% heat recovery and heat-to-hydrogen from 10% to 40% In solar reactors that use solar-heated thermo-chemistry to produce hydrogen from water, heat recovery is needed to increase efficiency and,...
Published at Environmental Science and Technology – Solar-Powered Direct Air Capture: Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment
Abstract Direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 has gained attention as a sustainable carbon source. One of the most promising technologies currently available is liquid solvent DAC (L-DAC), but the significant fraction of fossil CO2 in the output stream hinders its...
Published at Nature – Automatic heliostat learning for in situ concentrating solar power plant metrology with differentiable ray tracing
Abstract Concentrating solar power plants are a clean energy source capable of competitive electricity generation even during night time, as well as the production of carbon-neutral fuels, offering a complementary role alongside photovoltaic plants. In these power...
Synhelion opportunity for working students in solar fuels
We’re hiring dedicated and dynamic working students to join our awesome team in Jülich/Cologne: ◾ Working student heliostat field (f/m/d) 37-50% ◾ Working student hydrogen production (f/m/d) 37-50% 👉 Learn more and apply now at synhelion.com/careers and be a part of...
Published at the Journal of Physical Chemistry – Solar Thermochemical Redox Cycling Using Ga- and Al-Doped LSM Perovskites for Renewable Hydrogen Production
Abstract Solar thermochemical hydrogen production using redox-active metal oxides is a promising pathway for the production of green hydrogen and synthetic fuel precursors. Herein, the perovskite material (La0.6Sr0.4)0.95Mn0.8Ga0.2O3−δ (LSMG6482) is identified as a...
Long-duration thermal energy storage in sand begins NREL demo
NREL's Sand-based 100-hour long-duration thermal energy storage technology moves to demonstration phase at 10 hours Four years ago, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) won Department of Energy (DOE) ARPA-E funding to invent a new...
DLR researchers win ASME Best Paper Award
We are pleased to share that this year the "𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱" from the ASME (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers) goes to a team at our institute! This was announced during the 18th International hashtag#Conference on Energy Sustainability in Anaheim,...
Published at Applied Energy – Systematic assessment for an integrated hydrogen approach towards the cross-regional application considering solar thermochemical and methanol carrier
Abstract Hydrogen holds promise as a clean energy carrier, but its industrial utilization is currently constrained by the challenges of green production and efficient cross-regional delivery. To this end, a novel integrated hydrogen energy system considering the...
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