DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUER LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EV (DLR)

CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES ENERGETICAS, MEDIOAMBIENTALESY TECNOLOGICAS-CIEMAT (CIEMAT)

HyGear B.V. (HYG)

ELLINIKA PETRELAIA AE (HELPE)

The HYDROSOL-PLANT project is expected to develop, verify and operate all of the tools required to scale up solar H₂O splitting to the pilot (750 kWth) scale. The work is based on the successful HYDROSOL series projects and mainly on the outcome of the current FCH-JU co-funded project, HYDROSOL-3D, dedicated to the provision of all main design specifications of such a pilot plant. HYDROSOL-PLANT comes thus as the natural continuation of such an effort for CO₂-free hydrogen production in real scale. The main objectives of HYDROSOL-PLANT are to:

• Define all key components and aspects necessary for the erection and operation of a 750 kWth solar plant for H₂O splitting (heliostat field, solar reactors, overall process monitoring and control, feedstock conditioning, etc.)
• Develop tailored heliostat field technology (field layout, aiming strategies, monitoring and control software) that enables accurate temperature control of the solar reactors.
• Scale-up the HYDROSOL reactor while advancing the state-of-the-art (redox materials, monolithic honeycomb fabrication and functionalization) for optimum hydrogen yield.
• Design the overall chemical process, covering reactants and products conditioning, heat exchange/recovery, use of excess/waste heat, monitoring and control.
• Construct a solar hydrogen production demonstration plant in the 750 kWth range to verify the developed technologies for solar H₂O splitting.
• Operate the plant and demonstrate hydrogen production and storage on site (at levels > 3 kg/week).
• Perform a detailed techno-economic study for the commercial exploitation of the solar process