The world’s dependence on the declining reserves of fossil fuels poses not only environmental problems but also geopolitical issues. Furthermore, the chemical industry involves non-sustainable processes with a negative environmental impact. Solar energy has a huge potential to decarbonize the chemical industry and fuels.

Solar fuels could be stored for hours, days, months, or longer and could be transported anywhere, making them a valuable and flexible resource for a more reliable electric power grid.

The most widely researched solar fuel is hydrogen because its production is comparatively simple and the conversion of CO2 and water into fuels presents a potential solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while providing a sustainable source of fuels and chemicals for the 21st century.

A solar fuel can be produced and stored for later use, when sunlight is not available, making it an alternative to fossil fuels and batteries. Examples of such fuels – beyond hydrogen – are ammonia and hydrazine. Diverse technologies are being developed to carry out these reactions in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way involving thermochemical, electrochemical, photochemical, photo-electrochemical and photo-biologic processes.

 Solar Energy to fuel conversion and the production of chemical products is expected to play an increasingly important role in creating storable, transportable alternatives to fossil fuels and the production of chemicals in a more environmental way.

In which we attempt to answer the question, who wants to buy solar fuels and at what price?

Industry is responsible for more than 24% of the CO2 emissions. As one of the larger contributors, decarbonizing industry is key to achieving all the climate change abatement targets. In this session companies talk about the role of solar fuels to decarbonize their industrial processes.

  • Study the role of solar fuels in energy intensive industries such as iron and steelmaking, refining, chemical, fertilizers, etc.
  • Consider what key solar fuels could take permanent roles in specific industrial processes and what cost they would have to reach to be competitive with fossil fuels
  • Understand what solar fuels are key to companies in their decarbonization projects and what R+D is needed to get to its objective

In which we attempt to answer the question, what companies are working on commercializing solar fuels?

In this session we analyse the different processes to create solar fuels, their R+D status and the decarbonization potential in different industries; and whether solar fuels are a realistic alternative to fossil fuels in the short-term.

  • Understand the level of advancement of solar fuels at the commercial level and what investment and growth is expected in the near and mid-term future
  • Analyse the decarbonization potential of solar the different solar fuels or power to X from solar sources, scaling up potential and commercial value
  • Learn how solar fuels will become a commercial reality competing with fossil fuels in the near term and what their costs are projected to be

An introduction to solar fuels and chemicals, its technologies and processes.

In which we attempt to answer the question, what solar fuel R+D should be prioritized given the budget limitations?

In this session we analyse the future development of solar fuels over the next decade, in particular what are the main lines of research right now and what can be expected for the future.

  • Hear about the R+D efforts through Europe pushing solar fuels forward and on technologies such as photochemical, photobiological, thermochemical and electrochemical, and what is the state of the art of the technology
  • Have your say on the type of R+D that your company needs and that you would like funding and time from research institutions going towards
  • Participate of the decision-making process on what main solar fuel technology show most promise for industry decarbonization applications and therefore will be prioritized in the future
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