Solar hydrogen, energy carrier for the future exemplified by two field programs: Hysolar and solar-wasserstoff-bayern (SWB)

• Published in: Renewable energy 1994, Vol.5 (1), p.69-76
• Main Author: Winter, Carl-Jochen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Electric power generation; electrolysis; Energy; energy conversion chains; Exact sciences and technology; hydrogen combustion; LH 2 tanking; Miscellaneous; Natural energy; Q1; Solar energy; solar hydrogen; Solar radiation; Technology
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/0960-1481(94)90356-5

The paper reviews new developments in two solar hydrogen projects which have been in existence since the mid 1980's: SWB, a German industrial project, and HYSOLAR, a German-Saudi Arabian research project (Winter and Fuchs, 1991). One utility company and three industrial companies participate in SWB at a site in Neunburg vorm Wald, southern Germany, where solar irradiance is c. 1,100 kWh/m 2a. Academic and other research institutions are involved in HYSOLAR, which carries out some of its experiments in central Europe, and others at Riyadh's Solar Village and elsewhere on the Arabian Peninsula, which has one of the earth's highest insolation levels (2,300–2,500 kWh/M 2a. All technologies relevant for the complete solar hydrogen energy conversion chain are included, from generation to applications, with both marketable and advanced technologies. In the initial phase of both projects (1985-1991), the emphasis was on hydrogen generation by solar-driven electrolysis, and the scientific and technological results have been well documented (Steeb and Aba-Oud, 1993), (Grasse and Aba-Oud, 1992), (SWB, 1992); these sources themselves include extensive bibliographies. Major interest has now shifted to applications for hydrogen, although research continues on generation technologies, too.