SolarReaktor – Exploratory of process-oriented concept development of solar reactors and their application potentials

Starting point / motivation

Decarbonisation and the achievement of European climate goals will not be possible without the contribution of the European industry. For the efficient use of energy and the best possible integration of renewable energy sources, radical innovations are needed to reduce the costs of renewable energies to a large extent. Innovative, energy efficiency increasing, approaches for industrial processes which enable a change from batch to continuous thermal processes or the use of innovative processes (thermochemical, photocatalytical, electrolytical) are content of current research and development activities. At the same time, new reactor technologies are developed (emerging technologies) which show the potential of process intensification – significantly lower (exergetic) energy requirements and increased potential for the integration of solar energy.

Based on the described approaches the development of a solar reactor – the innovative concept of merging process intensification (new processes and reactors) with solar supply (thermal, direct radiation or solar-electrolytic) is a radical innovation. High system efficiencies, significant system simplifications, improved process management, easier controllability respectively system integration and, above all, significant cost reductions are expected. Ongoing research on solar reactors focus specifically on solar hydrolysis or waste water treatment shows very promising results. The savings and simplifications achieved, confirm the expected specific implementation potential, but by now do not allow conclusions for other processes or applications.

There is a lack of a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative assessment for the concept of the solar reactor and its application possibilities in the relevant energy-intensive industrial sectors. A lack of awareness of the innovative concepts of solar reactors, undefined research needs, and the lack of medium-term implementation and business models are hindering relevant stakeholders (solar industry, technology suppliers, and producing industry) from accepting the research and development risk and investing in innovative research developments.

Expected results

The exploratory “SolarReaktor” addresses these open questions and develops the basic design of a radically new approach of a modular solar reactor concept, merging (supply, reactor, storage, regulation, backup) based on a comprehensive analysis on the requirements and integration challenges of (for solar reactors) suitable processes and reactors to the solar supply.

The use of the solar reactor concept for 4 concept studies (for each type of processes) and its findings on the application potential and its requirements for the concept modularity is the basis for the evaluation of the actual and mid-term implementation potential of the solar reactor and the definition of short- and medium-term research questions. The exploration provides the basis for decision-making for further activities and the initiation of concrete research projects with stakeholders of the relevant sectors for the development of an Austrian technology leadership.