Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute ( ) have found a way to transform harmful climate effects Have found a way to transform climate-damaging CO2 into something useful. In a tall tower equipped with mirrors, sustainable synthetic fuels are produced from water, CO2 and sunlight. They can then be used to power cars or planes, helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
The project, called Material Advancements for Solar Fuels Technology (MAfoS), is being carried out at the Center for High Temperature Lightweight Structures (HTL) at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC) in Germany. The objective is to build the first industrial plant for transforming solar energy into fuel.
A pilot installation already exists in the solar tower of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Jülich, operated by the Swiss project partner Synhelion. The solar plant uses the power of the sun to produce synthetic fuels from water and carbon dioxide (or methane).
We have always wanted to expand into the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, power-to-X and power-to-fuel with our classic Fraunhofer HTL themes of high temperature coatings and materials as well as than ceramic fibers. In this project, we prove that we are a strong cooperation partner for small and medium-sized businesses, especially in this area, thanks to our customer orientation and proximity to the market, as well as our specialist expertise.
– Arne Rüdinger, Head of the Ceramic Fibers Department at Fraunhofer HTL
At the heart of the Jülich factory is a solar tower where mirrors concentrate sunlight and convert it into heat. This heat is then used to convert the starting materials in a reactor at high temperature and high pressure. We thus obtain the fuel, for example kerosene. One of the challenges of the project is the special materials that must withstand high heat (up to 1,500 degrees Celsius) and water vapor.
It is also great that our research can make such an important contribution to the reduction of CO2 and therefore to the sustainable transformation of our society.
– Jonathan Maier, MAfoS project manager
