Objective
Methane reforming is an endothermic reaction between methane, steam and/or CO2. The products are a mixture of hydrogen and CO, called syngas. In solar reforming, the calorific value of the fuel is upgraded by 20-30%, accounted for the contribution of the solar energy. The products can be directly combusted in a gas turbine for electricity generation or, can be used as a source for hydrogen production. The process is attractive where the sun is plentiful and where natural gas is available close by (e.g. Italy). The products can be piped in the existing pipeline and can be used as a fuel by customers far from the solar plant. Solar reforming can also be applied to other methane containing feedstocks such as biogas, and CO2 contaminated wells. This makes solar reforming a powerful candidate for benign, pollution free fuel processing in the future hydrogen economy. In the framework of the EC/FP4 the fundamentals of this technology have been developed (SOLASYS project) and tested at a scale of few hundreds kilowatts solar input. Based on the results of the SOLASYS project, the SOLREF project aims to bring the technology forward to the edge of industrialisation.
Three main subjects that are crucial to success of this technology will be studied in the SOLREF project.
1) A durable and stable catalytic system for reforming different feedstocks at high temperatures that complies with the specific conditions imposed by the solar application, such as rapid thermal fluctuations.
2) Mechanical modifications and improvements to the reformer and the concept design of the industrial module.
3) Establishing operation procedures, especially for faster start up and shut down. Industrial partners who, following successful completion of SOLREF including the pre-design of a pilot plant, would look to demonstrate and apply the technology in southern Italy back the project.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electrical engineering power engineering electric power generation
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fossil energy natural gas
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels synthetic fuels
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy hydrogen energy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2002-ENERGY-1
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
KOELN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.