Bewildering Journey: Sun-To-X’s Audacious Energy Endeavor
Unraveling the Mystery: Carbon-Free Liquid Fuel and Solar Power
In a world desperate for solutions, the enigmatic Sun-To-X project has emerged, harnessing solar power to craft carbon-free liquid fuel. This perplexing initiative, backed by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, unites nine partners from various backgrounds, from Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) to industry and Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs). As their minds entwine, a vision of eco-friendly chemical fuel production materializes, minimizing environmental devastation.
Embarking on Uncharted Territory: A New Value Chain for Chemical Energy Storage
The Sun-To-X project delves into unexplored realms, seeking a novel value chain for storing chemical energy. The journey begins with solar energy generating hydrogen from the air’s moisture or raindrops. This hydrogen engages in a fascinating dance with a recyclable silicon-oxide-based precursor, giving birth to HydroSil—a carbon-free, non-toxic, energy-dense liquid fuel. This enigmatic substance holds the key to long-term renewable energy storage and reductive depolymerisation of waste plastic, fostering a circular economy.
Conquering Unattainable Heights: Key Technical Objectives
Ambitious as ever, the Sun-To-X project dreams of achieving lofty technical goals. Among these are creating an efficient prototype device for solar hydrogen production, storing hydrogen in HydroSil through a thermochemical process, and unveiling HydroSil’s potential for reductive depolymerisation of waste plastics. This daring project strives to bolster the European Union and Mission Innovation’s aspirations for economic growth and fortified energy security by erecting a sustainable energy system.
A Symphony of Light and Chemistry: Photoelectrochemical Approaches
The Sun-To-X project orchestrates a harmonious fusion of light absorption and electrodes, culminating in a semiconductor photoelectrode. Aiming to maximize solar-to-hydrogen efficiency, the project employs a water-absorbing solid electrolyte, such as Nafion, and a gas-phase reaction. Through scalable preparation techniques, Sun-To-X has crafted transparent gas diffusion layers, propelling the technology readiness level (TRL) from a modest three to a promising five.
The Enigmatic HydroSil: A Silicon-Hydride-Based Chemical
Akin to a puzzle, HydroSil’s silicon-hydride-based composition offers high energy storage capacity and long-term renewable energy storage. Once spent, HydroSil can be recharged with hydrogen and reused, perpetuating its mysterious cycle. Sun-To-X’s researchers have developed catalysts capable of catalyzing the depolymerisation of plastics with high yield using HydroSil, offering a tantalizing alternative to conventional Si-H molecules.
An Alliance with a Global Vision: Collaboration with Mission Innovation
Sun-To-X unites forces with Mission Innovation, a global initiative propelling progress towards the Paris Agreement goals and net-zero pathways. After hosting a joint event in 2021, the two entities plan a follow-up event in 2023. Sun-To-X’s results could illuminate a path towards a sustainable future, mitigating climate change’s relentless advance.
