Features Efficiency Energy
New solar process gets more out of natural gas

Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are preparing to test a new way for solar power to make electricity: using the sun’s heat to increase the energy content of natural gas.

According to a report in the New York Times:

“The new system captures solar energy in a chemical form, using the sun’s heat to break open the molecules of natural gas (four hydrogen atoms and one carbon atom) and water (two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom) and reshuffle them into something that burns better: carbon monoxide and pure hydrogen. The result also has carbon dioxide, which is inert.”

Click here to read the full article on this synthesis gas.