Objective

SOLAR-JET is a collaborative research project that aims to ascertain the feasibility and potential for producing kerosene from concentrated sunlight, CO2 captured from air, and water.

Description

The SOLAR-JET project was launched in 2011 and completed in 2015, and received €2.2 million of European Union funding from the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7).

The core of the SOLAR-JET project is a two-step solar thermochemical process. In a first step, carbon dioxide and water are converted in a synthesis gas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) in a high-temperature solar reactor containing metal-oxide based materials. The syngas is then converted into kerosene using the established "Fischer-Tropsch" process.

The aim of the project is to demonstrate the full process at laboratory scale and further assess the technology gaps, as well as the technological and economic scalability.

SOLAR-JET scientific approach includes the following steps:

• Definition of an assessment framework to estimate the substitution potential of kerosene and identify critical technology gaps;
• Design and manufacturing of a solar chemical reactor to produce the syngas;
• Development of a detailed modeling capability of heat transfer coupled with chemical reaction, allowing optimization of the system and scaling studies;
• Demonstration of the whole process through the production of the first solar jet fuel;
  An analysis of the technological potential and economic perspectives.

Partners

ETH Zürich, Bauhaus Luftfahrt, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Shell Global Solutions, Shell Research, ARTTIC

Achievements to date

• First ever production of synthesized "solar" jet fuel in April 2014
• Record energy conversion efficiency for solar thermochemical syngas production: Link
• Results on climate impact and economic feasibility of solar jet fuel: Link
• Received the First aireg-Award in November 2015
• In January 2016: Start of follow-up EU-Horizon2020 project SUN-to-LIQUID: Integrated solar-thermochemical synthesis of liquid hydrocarbon fuels under Grant Agreement nr. 654408

Contact information

• ​Project website: http://www.solar-jet.aero/
• Contact: Dr. Andreas Sizman, Bauhaus Luftfahrt e.V., andreas.sizmann [at] bauhaus-luftfahrt.net (andreas[dot]sizmann[at]bauhaus-luftfahrt[dot]net)