Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PHOTOSINT (PHOTOelectrocatalytic systems for Solar fuels energy INTegration into the industry with local resources)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-09-01 bis 2025-02-28
The PHOTOSINT project presents solutions to the chemical industries' challenges in integrating renewable energy sources into their processes. The project will deliver sustainable processes to produce hydrogen and methanol as energy vectors using only sunlight as an energy source and wastewater and CO2 as feedstocks, making the industries more self-sufficient. The production pathway is based on solar-driven artificial photosynthesis and aims to develop new catalytic earth-abundant materials and modifications of existing ones to improve catalytic processes. The PEC cell design parameters will be fine-tuned to maximise efficiency in solar to fuel (STF). Moreover, to improve the conversion for industrial implementation, PHOTOSINT will develop a novel way to concentrate and illuminate the semiconductor surface, increasing the light collection surface at about the same CAPEX, while the innovative incorporation of a heat exchange system between the semiconductor and the electrochemical cell will maximize overall energy efficiency and improve the OPEX. Moreover, low-cost state-of-the-art perovskite solar PV cells will be integrated to harvest the light to supply the external electrical voltage.
PHOTOSINT is an ambitious project due to the limited research conducted to date and the low production rate for the desired products. To integrate sunlight energy into the industry, the catalysts will be studied, and then the best one/s will be implemented in prototypes. The obtained results will be used for making scale-up in pilots with tandem PEC cells. These steps are necessary to assess the industrial scale-up feasibility, promoting the increased competitiveness of renewable process energy technologies and energy independence. Furthermore, MeOH and H2 will be tested in engines. Also, an HTPEM fuel cell will be used for electricity generation, and hydrogen will be tested in melting furnaces as an alternative fuel source instead of natural gas, thereby eliminating CO2 emissions.
The main PHOTOSINT objective is to actively support the integration of renewable energy sources into the energy demand of the chemical industry by proposing innovative, feasible and secure solutions. To this end, the project will develop novel photoelectrochemical production methods for liquid/gas energy carriers, which can be implemented in industrial contexts for renewable energy to meet the energy demands of chemical processes. For this purpose, local resources streams such as CO2 emissions or secondary wastewater from industry will be converted into valuable liquid and gaseous fuels, specifically methanol and hydrogen, by electrocatalysis, using sunlight exclusively as an energy source. Pathways will be developed, and different catalyst materials will be tested to maximise the conversion. First, a single cell will be used for testing and optimising the catalytic electrodes, and then the scale-up phase will be carried out to shed light on the feasibility of achieving higher productivity toward industrial implementation.
PHOTOSINT is an ambitious project due to the limited research conducted to date and the low production rate for the desired products. To integrate sunlight energy into the industry, the catalysts will be studied, and then the best one/s will be implemented in prototypes. The obtained results will be used for making scale-up in pilots with tandem PEC cells. These steps are necessary to assess the industrial scale-up feasibility, promoting the increased competitiveness of renewable process energy technologies and energy independence. Furthermore, MeOH and H2 will be tested in engines. Also, an HTPEM fuel cell will be used for electricity generation, and hydrogen will be tested in melting furnaces as an alternative fuel source instead of natural gas, thereby eliminating CO2 emissions.
The main PHOTOSINT objective is to actively support the integration of renewable energy sources into the energy demand of the chemical industry by proposing innovative, feasible and secure solutions. To this end, the project will develop novel photoelectrochemical production methods for liquid/gas energy carriers, which can be implemented in industrial contexts for renewable energy to meet the energy demands of chemical processes. For this purpose, local resources streams such as CO2 emissions or secondary wastewater from industry will be converted into valuable liquid and gaseous fuels, specifically methanol and hydrogen, by electrocatalysis, using sunlight exclusively as an energy source. Pathways will be developed, and different catalyst materials will be tested to maximise the conversion. First, a single cell will be used for testing and optimising the catalytic electrodes, and then the scale-up phase will be carried out to shed light on the feasibility of achieving higher productivity toward industrial implementation.
In this first 18-month period of the PHOTOSINT project, all planned Work Packages started their activity.
The most advanced part is the fine definition of electrode material and catalyst devices. In this sense, the methodology, configuration and action plan for PHOTOSINT have been presented, as well as the definition of process inputs and characterization. Besides, the basis catalyst design for liquid fuels and hydrogen production has been carried out, setting the basis for the following technological tasks.
In the case of the system configuration and the prototype development, a first approach for the PV solar cells has been defined, and the basic design of PEC cells for the prototype device has been presented as an internal deliverable of the project. Aligned with this achievement, the operation details for both fuel pathways production have been defined.
The main outcomes of the mentioned activities have been used in the process modelling and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) tasks. The goal of these modelling activities is to develop a mathematical model to reproduce the behavior of the PHOTOSINT processes, giving important input for the study and assessment for the implementation of the technology in any chemical process industry. At this stage, a broad database has been generated for the modelling of the project processes, and the objective functions to run the MDO have been identified.
With all the generated outcomes, the team has also worked on elaborating a list of inputs that relevant industrial partners and stakeholders could require for the implementation of the technologies developed in PHOTOSINT, highlighting the process friendliness and the substitution of fossil process energy. Besides, the study of places for technology implementation has been initiated.
With all the mentioned results, the tasks focused on the pilot design and sustainability have been initiated and will be further developed in the coming months of the PHOTOSINT project.
The most advanced part is the fine definition of electrode material and catalyst devices. In this sense, the methodology, configuration and action plan for PHOTOSINT have been presented, as well as the definition of process inputs and characterization. Besides, the basis catalyst design for liquid fuels and hydrogen production has been carried out, setting the basis for the following technological tasks.
In the case of the system configuration and the prototype development, a first approach for the PV solar cells has been defined, and the basic design of PEC cells for the prototype device has been presented as an internal deliverable of the project. Aligned with this achievement, the operation details for both fuel pathways production have been defined.
The main outcomes of the mentioned activities have been used in the process modelling and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) tasks. The goal of these modelling activities is to develop a mathematical model to reproduce the behavior of the PHOTOSINT processes, giving important input for the study and assessment for the implementation of the technology in any chemical process industry. At this stage, a broad database has been generated for the modelling of the project processes, and the objective functions to run the MDO have been identified.
With all the generated outcomes, the team has also worked on elaborating a list of inputs that relevant industrial partners and stakeholders could require for the implementation of the technologies developed in PHOTOSINT, highlighting the process friendliness and the substitution of fossil process energy. Besides, the study of places for technology implementation has been initiated.
With all the mentioned results, the tasks focused on the pilot design and sustainability have been initiated and will be further developed in the coming months of the PHOTOSINT project.
Several disciplines are involved in the ambitious initiative proposed in PTHOTOSINT, such as engineering, mathematics modelling, solar energy absorption, catalytic research, sustainability analysis and PEC design. Combining catalyst and high-level engineering equipment design, PHOTOSINT will offer a notable advancement beyond SoA. With minimal adverse effects on the environment, the suggested technology within PHOTOSINT seeks to address the issue of a reliable source of renewable energy for the chemical sector. This technology may be scaled up to significant levels to facilitate the switch from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources.
The primary power source for the PHOTOSINT technology is sunlight, which is also stored as chemical energy in substances like hydrogen and methanol. This is an enormous advantage and promotes that industrial operations in PHOTOSINT technology can continue to operate into the night. Owing to its self-sufficient energy production and grid supply, PHOTOSINT offers potential solutions for isolated areas, rural areas with significant livestock or agricultural sectors, and some chemical industries located far from urban centers.
In the PHOTOSINT project, the exploitation plan will be delivered containing information about the planned key exploitable results and their expected applications: development status, facts that facilitate the assessment of the potential impact, differences from existing competing products/services and main IPR issues. This work is initiated and under development with the partners involved in the exploitation activities and who also provide information about their previous experience and business interest. Besides, the final business model will include an analysis of the market, their potential economic size, market trends, main competitors and competitive advantage.
The primary power source for the PHOTOSINT technology is sunlight, which is also stored as chemical energy in substances like hydrogen and methanol. This is an enormous advantage and promotes that industrial operations in PHOTOSINT technology can continue to operate into the night. Owing to its self-sufficient energy production and grid supply, PHOTOSINT offers potential solutions for isolated areas, rural areas with significant livestock or agricultural sectors, and some chemical industries located far from urban centers.
In the PHOTOSINT project, the exploitation plan will be delivered containing information about the planned key exploitable results and their expected applications: development status, facts that facilitate the assessment of the potential impact, differences from existing competing products/services and main IPR issues. This work is initiated and under development with the partners involved in the exploitation activities and who also provide information about their previous experience and business interest. Besides, the final business model will include an analysis of the market, their potential economic size, market trends, main competitors and competitive advantage.