IEA SHC Task 72: Solar Photoreactors for Fuels and Chemicals (working period 2024 - 2028)

With the increasing demand for green fuels and chemicals, solar-based photoprocesses that utilize direct sunlight are gaining importance. The IEA SHC Task 72 aims to develop new materials, reactor designs and system integration strategies as well as standardized test and evaluation protocols in an interdisciplinary approach to ultimately pave the way for future solar photoreactors as new market segments for the solar industry.

Short Description

The main objective of IEA SHC Task 72 is to establish an international network of experts in the field of solar photoreactors. This is pursued through three subtasks:

Subtask A: Material Development – Focused on developing sustainable and stable catalysts that utilize the full solar spectrum and can be applied in various chemical reactions (e.g., water splitting, CO₂ reduction). Emphasis is placed on environmentally friendly and easily producible materials.

Subtask B: Photoreactor Design – Investigating and optimizing reactor designs to maximize photoreactor efficiency. The work focuses on low-temperature reactors (up to 150 °C) that can be directly coupled with solar collectors.

Subtask C: System Integration – Developing new system concepts for the integration of solar photochemical facilities, especially by utilizing industrial waste or residual streams and addressing specific safety requirements.

Building on these three subtasks, the Austrian research contribution focuses on the following sub-objectives:

1. Establish a knowledge community with experts in material chemistry, process engineering, and solar technology.

2. Develop guidelines and design strategies for solar photoreactors, including:

Selection and options of integrating (photo)catalysts with a focus on using real sunlight.
Development of design guidelines.
Creation of flow diagrams as preparation for the development and implementation of pilot plants.

3. Harmonize testing conditions and define standardized key performance indicators by:

Compiling existing test infrastructure in Austria.
Developing testing protocols (focused on materials, reactors, and system concepts) and essential performance parameters.
Potentially incorporating results into standardization processes.

4. Disseminate results to increase visibility.

In addition to the Austrian leadership role (task management) within IEA SHC Task 72, national activities include leading Subtask B on photoreactor design and contributing to the scientific exchange on design strategies and guidelines, as well as standardized testing procedures and protocols, and the collection of key performance indicators across three levels: materials (link to Subtask A), photoreactors (link to Subtask B), and system integration (link to Subtask C).

By the project's end, outcomes will include (i) design strategies for solar photoreactors relating to material design, reactor design, and system integration, and (ii) guidelines and testing protocols that pave the way for standardized tests, evaluations, and the collaborative use of international research results.

Participants

Austria (Operating Agent), Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain

Contact Address

Project leader

DI Dr. Bettina Muster-Slawitsch
AEE – Institute for Sustainable Technologies
Feldgasse 19, 8200 Gleisdorf
E-Mail: b.muster@aee.at

Project partners

DI Sarah Meitz
AEE – Institute for Sustainable Technologies
Feldgasse 19, 8200 Gleisdorf
E-Mail: s.meitz@aee.at

Dr. Dominik Eder
Technical University of Vienna, Institute for Material Chemistry
Getreidemarkt 9/165, 1060 Vienna
E-Mail: dominik.eder@tuwien.ac.at

Dr. Dogukan Apaydin
Technical University of Vienna, Institute for Material Chemistry
Getreidemarkt 9/165, 1060 Vienna
E-Mail: dogukan.apaydin@tuwien.ac.at

Alois Resch BSc MSc
FH OÖ Research & Development GmbH
Stelzhamerstraße 23, 4600 Wels
E-Mail: alois.resch@fh-ooe.at