Home > Market > Other Regions > Here
NREL scientists advance solar thermo-chemical hydrogen (STCH) production
2022.05.11 From: helioscsp
Perovskite materials may hold the potential to play an important role in a process to produce hydrogen in a renewable manner, according to an analysis from scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Hydrogen has emerged as an important carrier to store energy generated by renewable resources, as a substitute for fossil fuels used for transportation, in the production of ammonia, and for other industrial applications. Key to the successful use of hydrogen as a fuel is being able to meet the Department of Energy’s Hydrogen Energy Earthshot—a recently announced goal to cut the cost of clean hydrogen by 80% to $1 per kilogram in a decade.
Source: Green Car Congress 06 May 2022
The NREL scientists analyzed solar thermochemical hydrogen (STCH) production, which can be potentially more energy-efficient than producing hydrogen via the commonly used electrolysis method. Electrolysis needs electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. STCH relies on a two-step chemical process in which metal oxides are exposed to temperatures greater than 1,400 degrees Celsius and then re-oxidized with steam at lower temperatures to produce hydrogen.
It’s certainly a very challenging field, and it has a lot of research questions still unanswered, mainly on the materials perspective.
—Zhiwen Ma, a senior engineer at NREL
Ma is the lead author of a new paper, “System and Technoeconomic Analysis of Solar Thermochemical Hydrogen Production,” which appears in the journal Renewable Energy. His co-authors, all from NREL, are Patrick Davenport and Genevieve Saur.
The paper complements ongoing materials discovery research by looking at the system-level design and techno-economic analysis for integrating possible materials into a solar-fuel platform and supporting the Department of Energy’s HydroGEN program. The material discovery in the HydroGEN program involved machine learning, defect calculations, and experimental work to develop new perovskite materials. The researchers need to identify perovskites capable of handling the high temperatures required while hitting performance targets.
A conceptual solar thermochemical hydrogen production platform. Illustration by Patrick Davenport, NREL
This work shows part of a portfolio of techno-economic analysis focused on hydrogen production pathways each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Electrolysis, for example, is commercially available and the electricity required can come from photovoltaics (PV). The PV cells used, however, only capture a section of the solar spectrum. STCH uses the entire spectrum. The concentrated solar thermal power enables STCH to create the chemical reaction.
Active research to identify the best materials for the STCH process is critical to the success of this method for hydrogen production, the scientists noted.
This research is funded by the Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.
Resources
Zhiwen Ma, Patrick Davenport, Genevieve Saur (2022) “System and technoeconomic analysis of solar thermochemical hydrogen production,” Renewable Energy, Volume 190, Pages 294-308 doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.03.108
More from CSP Focus
NextConcentrated solar power had a global total installed capacity of 6,451 MW in 2019
China Silk Road Fund acquired 24.01% equity interest of Dubai DEWA 700MW CSP project
Chile’s Cerro Dominador concentrated solar power signs PPA with power distributor Saesa
Delingha, China's first commercial concentrated solar power plant produces electricity
How sub-Saharan Africa can harness its big electricity opportunities
Concentrated solar power accounted for 3.5% of electricity in August in Spain
Morocco’s Noor Ouarzazate Concentrated Solar Power plant could power over one million homes- CNN
Leave your thoughts here
Reports(Member Only)
See more+-
CSP Focus Membership Proposals
We are now proposing CSP Focus Membership, hoping to better serve our members to keep pace with the latest updates of ongoing CSP projects worldwide, and to establish and maintain business relations with major shareholders of the projects. CSP Focus offers to Membership exclusive access to:1. Daily/Weekly update and analysis on CSP policies, projects, technologies, market trend and corporate relea
-
The Latest CSP Focus Monthly Update
Join CSP Focus Membership to Get the Latest CSP Focus Monthly Update December Edition.
-
CSP Project Monthly Update 2022 December Edition
CSP Focus is presenting CSP Project (China) Update 2022 December Edition.Detail report is available for CSP Focus Membership.
-
Presentations-CSP Focus China 2021
The Report is for CSP Focus Members only.
Upcoming Events
See more+-
12th CSP Focus China 2022
2022.04.21-22 Beijing
-
11th CSP Focus China 2021
2021.10.28-29 Beijing
-
10th CSP Focus China 2020
2020.10.22-23 Beijing, China
Project Updates
See more+-
Lanzhou Dacheng Dunhuang CSP Project
Asia Pacific-China,Operational,Parabolic Trough
-
Luneng Haixi 50MW Molten Salt Tower CSP Project
Asia Pacific-China,Operational,Power Tower
-
Dubai 950MW NOOR Energy 1 CSP+PV Project
MENA-UAE,Under construction,Power Tower
-
Power China Gonghe 50MW Molten Salt Tower CSP Project
Asia Pacific-China,Operational,Power Tower