A solar powered NCF plant may be coming

June 26, 2017
http://proceedings.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=2653558
Advanced Power Plant Concept With Application of Exhaust CO₂ to Liquid Fuel Production

B. Chudnovsky, L. Levin, A. Talanker, A. Kunin, J. Cohen
Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), Haifa, Israel

R. Harpaz
NewCO2Fuels, Rehovot, Israel

J. Karni
The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Here we present an analysis of a novel technology for combining oxy-fuel combustion with utilization of the CO₂ rich flue gas for syntetic fuel production. The technology concept involves a new method of using concentrated solar energy for the dissociation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to carbon monoxide (CO) and oxygen (O₂). Simultaneously, the same device can dissociate water (H₂O) to hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂). The CO, or the mixture of CO and H₂ (called Syngas), can then be used as a gaseous fuel (e.g. in power plants), or converted to a liquid fuel (e.g. methanol), which is relatively easy to store and transport, and can be used in motor vehicles and electricity generation facilities. The oxygen produced in the process can be used in oxy-fuel combustion or other advanced combustion methods in power plants.

The simulation results show that the amount of fuel produced, additional power generated and power station self consumption may be changed over a wide range, depending on the size of the solar field, which provides the energy for the liquid fuel production.


The paper includes an overview of some of the key technical considerations of the new concept of CO₂ conversion to fuel. Based on the obtained results it may be concluded that the methodology presented in this study is an attractive option for CO₂ emission reduction, which can be implemented in existing and/or new power generation units.
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Why is this paper significant? Look at the major authors. NewCO2Fuels as well as Jacob Karni (Prof. Jacob Karni’s laboratory at the Weizmann Institute of Science discovered the NCF technology and Karni has one of the brightest solar energy careers in Israel).

Now who are the other authors? Israel Electric Corporation. This is a multi-billion company that represents about 75% of the total electricity production capacity in the country. It transmits and distributes substantially all the electricity used in Israel, including power generated by other producers. I think they are gonna be funding a pilot plant (why else would they be co-authors of this paper/proposal?).

Further to this, they are focusing on solar technology to create the syngas.