A Germany-based company has established a groundbreaking facility that produces kerosene using solar energy, utilizing hundreds of moving mirrors. This project, announced in Jülich, Germany, by the company Synhelion, marks the first instance worldwide where synthetic crude oil will be generated using solar energy. This innovative process aims to produce kerosene for aircraft, gasoline for cars, and diesel for ships, all using the power of the sun.
Solar-Powered Kerosene, Gasoline, and Diesel Production
Synhelion harnesses solar energy to produce liquid fuels such as kerosene, diesel, and gasoline. The facility in Jülich achieves temperatures up to 1500 degrees Celsius by focusing sunlight collected by hundreds of movable mirrors onto a tower. This intense heat is used not to produce steam but to generate liquid fuels, significantly reducing carbon emissions and promoting more environmentally friendly aviation and maritime transport.
The European Union mandates that starting from 2025, airlines must use 2% green kerosene in their flights, a requirement that will increase to 6% by 2030 and 20% by 2035. However, the current production capacity of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) may not meet these demands. Synhelion’s facility, which produces kerosene from solar energy, could play a crucial role in bridging this gap.
At the Synhelion site, specially designed mirrors collect solar heat (energy) with high precision, focusing the sunlight onto a single point to create the hot steam used in the reactor. This steam is mixed with biogas to produce synthetic crude oil and other fuels like kerosene.
Commercial Production Plans
Synhelion is ready for industrial use and plans to establish its first commercial facility in Spain by 2025, projected to produce approximately 1,000 tons of fuel annually. Within a decade, the company aims to reach an annual production capacity of about one million tons of solar-derived fuels.
Your Thoughts?
What do you think about the production of synthetic crude oil like kerosene using solar energy? How could the widespread adoption of this technology benefit the environment? Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section below…
