Solar fuels
Last June, Synhelion S.A. (Lugano, Switzerland; www.synhelion.com) inaugurated DAWN, the world’s first industrial-scale plant to produce synthetic fuels using solar thermal energy. Located in Jülich, Germany, DAWN features a 20-m-high solar tower that contains a solar receiver, a thermochemical reactor and a thermal-energy storage that enables cost-efficient solar fuel production around the clock. A field of mirrors (heliostats) focus sunlight onto the receiver to supply the energy for the process.
On-site, the DAWN plant will produce synthetic crude oil, an intermediate product that is suitable to be transported. The syncrude is then processed into certified fuels in a conventional petroleum refinery. Thus, Synhelion will produce not only solar kerosene for aviation, but also solar gasoline and solar diesel.
In 2025, Synhelion will begin building its first commercial plant in Spain. The plant will produce a total of around 1,000 ton/yr of fuel.