Confronted with the energy problems that travel Europe” Germany has decided to experiment with solar radiation instead of negotiating with Russia. His “game” made gas “from nowhere.” Until now, a large number of first chemical subjects, such as ethylene, propylene, methanol or ammonia, have been generated by crude oil and natural gas.
In this context, many industries need these agents for generating plastic, fuels or fertilizers, among other things. The procedures used for this use large amounts of goods and energy. In addition, they emit nearly 40 million tonnes of CO3 Germany.
But the energy transition is more advanced than ever and already reaches places where we never intend to catch a glimpse, or at least not so fast.
Germany experiences solar radiation: creates gas from nowhere, so Russia stays aside
He German space centerThrough other European institutions, it has created an innovative procedure to obtain chemical elements with the help of concentrated solar energy. It produces ethylene using water and CO2, with concentrated solar radiation. This system is part of the European project Flowphotochem.
A test factory has already been tested to convert water and carbon dioxide into ethylene, an essential element in plastic production such as polyethylene (PE). The initiative tries to reduce the dependence on the chemical industry of oil and natural gas, essential and current ethylene sources.
The technology we are talking about makes the large -scale production of this element possible through a mechanism that uses renewable energy, which contributes to the low -carbon poor of industry.
How does the solar radiation installation work in which Germany works?
The operation of the Zonnefabriek is based on three interconnected reactors. The first is the distribution of water. In the number 1 reactor the water is separated into hydrogen and oxygen through the energy of the concentrated solar radiation.
The second reactor is also aimed at CO2 conversion to CO. At this point, the hydrogen produced is combined with CO2 that is laid down from the atmosphere or industrial procedures to generate carbon monoxide. Finally, the third party focuses on ethylene synthesis. Monoxide becomes ethylene or other chemical elements by resorting to electricity of solar energy.
It is a revolutionary project that the sector is just as surprised as this innovative heating system that the air was done out of solar radiation at that time.
Projection of the solar radiation -initiative of Germany
He DLR Institute for Future Fuels It was responsible for the design and optimization of the system, which guarantees the optimum integration of the three reactors.
In turn, the research had other active participants such as Swiss Sohytec (who acted as a provider of the first reactor), the Polytechnic University of Valencia in Spain (center that designed the second reactor) and Echemices y Sized University of Hungary (who developed the third reactor).
The pilot factory was tested under controlled circumstances in Colonia, GermanyWith the help of artificial sunlight made by Xenon lamps. This made the implementation of experiments possible without repairing it again.
If the production of chemicals with solar radiation would be implemented on a large scale (after a much higher research), it would have sufficient potential to condemn the industry.
It would offer a sustainable, efficient and scalable process. Similarly, it would offer important benefits that the world is looking for: reducing emissions, use of clean energy, decentralized production and greater sustainability in the plastic industry.
This progress is a step forward to a circular economy and a real energy transition, strongly tailored to the goals for low -carbon worldwide.
She that as it is, Germany Does that have a precedent Russia I could start to fear very quickly. On the other hand, there was an international impact on investigation on protective connections against solar radiation of a UR group.