Researchers at Contisol have successfully trialled the German Aerospace Centre, a solar reactor that directs concentrated solar power into a reactor with multiple channels, storing energy that can be used throughout the night. The reactor uses half the channels to split methane or water into hydrogen using solar power, and the other half uses solar energy to heat air to 1,000C, with its products stored as thermal energy. The potential solution comes as solar generation is predicted to increase from 7% of total US renewable energy in 2015 to 36% by 2050.
Researchers at the German Aerospace Centre have successfully trialled Contisol, a solar reactor that directs concentrated solar power into a reactor with multiple channels, storing energy that can be used throughout the night. The reactor uses half the channels to split methane or water into hydrogen using solar power, and the other half uses solar energy to heat air to 1,000C, with its products stored as thermal energy. The potential solution comes as solar generation is predicted to increase from 7% of total US renewable energy in 2015 to 36% by 2050.