Integrated solar thermal catalytic and solar electrolyser process

Competitive Advantage:

• Highly active methane dry reforming catalyst based on cheap active metals (Ni and Co) which can be synthesised rapidly in a single step method, and is readily scalable;
• High conversion of methane (up to 90%) is achievable at a relatively low operating temperature of 700°C;
• Catalyst support (using SiO2 and Al2O3) modification to enhance catalyst stability 

Impact:

• Alleviate global warming by recycling CO2 into synthetic fuels;
• Effective use of abundant and free energy from the sun 

Successful applications:

• The construction and commissioning of a Solar Thermal Plant for integrated CO2 methanation with hydrogen production via catalysed water electrolysis

Capabilities and facilities:

• Access to expertise and state-of-the-art facilities for catalyst synthesis for large scale production;
• Characterisation and testing of catalyst performance
• In-situ testing to understand conversion mechanisms

Researchers:

• Dr Jian Pan
• Dr Tze Hao Tan
• Scientia Prof Rose Amal

Highlighted Publications:

• Synergistic ultraviolet and visible light photo-activation enables intensified low-temperature methanol synthesis over copper/zinc oxide/alumina, Nature Communications, 2020, 11(1), 1615