High Concentration Optical System for Solar Fuel Production via Cerium Oxide Thermochemical Cycle
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52825/solarpaces.v3i.2433Keywords:
Solar Fuels, High Concentration Optical System, Cerium Oxide Thermochemical Cycle, Hydrogen, CPC ClusterAbstract
The integration of solar energy into hydrogen fuel production marks a key step towards sustainable energy. This study, which is part of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action called “TOPCSP”, aims to optimize the design of a concentrated solar power system tailored for high-temperature applications such as thermochemical cycles for hydrogen production. The system features a point-focus tower with compound parabolic concentrators as secondary concentrator to maximize solar radiation capture and to minimize receiver thermal losses, enhancing the efficiency of the solar-to-fuel conversion. Hydrogen is produced through a two-step thermochemical cycle using non-stoichiometric ceria, designed for high efficiency and scalability. Through theoretical modeling and simulations, this work presents an optimal optical configuration that boosts hydrogen production rates and reduces overall system costs.
Downloads
References
[1] C. Moretti, V. Patil, C. Falter, L. Geissbühler, A. Patt and A. Steinfeld, "Technical, eco-nomic and environmental analysis of solar thermochemical production of drop-in fuels" Science of the Total Environment, vol. 901, 25 November 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166005
[2] V.K. Budama, J.P.R. Duarte, M. Roeb, C. Sattler, “Potential of solar thermochemical water-splitting cycles: A review” Solar Energy, Volume 249, Pages 353 – 366, 1 January 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2022.11.001.
[3] Y. Lu, L. Zhu, C. Agrafiotis, J. Vieten, M. Roeb, and C. Sattler, “Solar fuels production: Two-step thermochemical cycles with cerium-based oxides,” Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, vol. 75. Elsevier Ltd, Nov. 01, 2019. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2019.100785.
[4] Bhosale RR, Takalkar G, Sutar P, Kumar A, AlMomani F, Khraisheh M, “A decade of ceria based solar thermochemical H2O/CO2 splitting cycle”, International Journal of Hy-drogen Energy, Volume 44, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 34-60, ISSN 0360-3199, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.04.080.
[5] J.-P. Säck, S. Breuer, P. Cotelli, A. Houaijia, M. Lange, M. Wullenkord, C. Spenke, M. Roeb, C. Sattler “High temperature hydrogen production: Design of a 750 KW demon-stration plant for a two step thermochemical cycle”, Solar Energy, Volume 135, October 2016, Pages 232-241, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.05.059
[6] M. Schmitz, P. Schwarzbözl, R. Buck, R. Pitz-Paal, “Assessment of the potential im-provement due to multiple apertures in central receiver systems with secondary concen-trators“, Solar Energy 80 (2006) 111–120, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2005.02.012
[7] National Renewable Energy Laboratory. SolarPILOT & SolTrace.
[8] The MathWorks, Inc., Natick, Massachusetts, U. S. MATLAB®, R2019b.
[9] A. Giostri. “Preliminary analysis of solarized micro gas turbine application to CSP para-bolic dish plants”, Energy Procedia, Volume 142, December 2017, Pages 768-773, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.12.124
[10] S. Li, V.M. Wheeler, P.B. Kreider, R. Bader, and W. Lipiński. “Thermodynamic Analyses of Fuel Production via Solar-Driven Non-stoichiometric Metal Oxide Redox Cycling. Part 2. Impact of Solid−Gas Flow Configurations and Active Material Composition on System-Level Efficiency.“ Energy & Fuels, vol. 32, nº. 10, pp.10848-10863, 1 October 2018, doi: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.8b02082
[11] M. Binotti, G. di Marcoberardino, M. Biassoni, G. Manzolini. “Solar hydrogen production with cerium oxides thermochemical cycle” SolarPACES 2016 AIP Conf. Proc. 1850, 100002-1–100002-10; doi: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4984459
[12] P. Ingenhoven, L. Lee, W. Saw, M.M. Rafique, D. Potter, G.J. Nathan “Techno-economic assessment from a transient simulation of a concentrated solar thermal plant to deliver high-temperature industrial process heat”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 185 (2023) 113626, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113626
[13] G. Gentile, G. Picotti, M. Binotti, M.E. Cholette, G. Manzolini, “A comprehensive method-ology for the design of solar tower external receivers” Volume 193, April 2024, 114153. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.114153
Published
How to Cite
Conference Proceedings Volume
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Alejandro González Silvestre, Gioele di Marcoberardino, Marco Binotti

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Accepted 2025-05-02
Published 2025-10-09
Funding data
-
HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Grant numbers TOP-CSP project (GA No. 101072537)