Producing chemical feedstocks using concentrated solar energy

Germany’s DLR has set up and tested a demonstration plant to produce chemical feedstocks in a more climate-compatible manner through the FlowPhotoChem project. The process harnesses concentrated solar radiation, water, and carbon dioxide to create essential chemical precursors, improving upon traditional methods that heavily rely on fossil fuels. The project focuses on producing ethylene, a critical material for plastic manufacturing. This initiative aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with chemical production while promoting renewable energy utilization.