EU-Project SOLREF – Solar Reforming of Methane

Funding source: external pageEuropean Union
Partners: external pageDLR - Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (D), external pageWeizmann Institute of Science (IL), external pageJohnson Matthey Fuel Cell Ltd. (UK), external pageCenter for Research and Technology - Hellas, Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute (EL), external pageHyGear B.V. (NL), external pageSHAP S.p.A. (I)

Objective – Development and demonstration of a 400-kW solar chemical plant for hydrogen production via steam-reforming of natural gas.

Background – The use of concentrated solar power for supplying high-temperature process heat to the steam-reforming of natural gas has the potential of avoiding up to 35% of the CO2 emissions derived from the conventional fossil-fuel-based method. The cost of hydrogen is estimated at 0.05 EUR/kWh_LHV-H2. The project aims at developing the technology to a pre-commercial phase. ETH is responsible for the thermodynamic analysis and reactor/process dynamic modeling.

Process scheme of hydrogen production via steam-reforming of natural gas using CSP, coupled to electricity generation via a syngas-fueled combine cycle or a H2-fueled fuel cell. — Fig. 1: Process scheme of hydrogen production via steam-reforming of natural gas using CSP, coupled to electricity generation via a syngas-fueled combine cycle or a H₂-fueled fuel cell.

Project-related Publications