Sunlight-to-X conversion, which harnesses abundant solar energy to produce fuels and chemicals (X), has recently emerged as a promising solution to address energy intermittency and decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors. By generating renewable feedstocks such as green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol, these processes can support the development of alternative fuels, reducing dependence on finite fossil resources. Various technologies—including photovoltaic-electrocatalysis (PV-EC), photoelectrocatalysis (PEC), and photocatalysis (PC)—enable the conversion of solar energy into fuels and chemicals, each with distinct advantages and limitations [1,2].
Despite their potential, limited techno-economic modelling has been conducted to comparatively evaluate the feasibility of different sunlight-to-X pathways [3]. This research aims to assess the techno-economic viability of standalone PV-EC, PEC, and PC processes for producing renewable feedstocks such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol. The findings are expected to help identify key challenges and viable pathways for the commercialisation of these technologies.
School
Chemical Engineering
Research Area
Chemical engineering | Renewable energy | Solar fuel conversion
- Research environment
- Expected outcomes
- Supervisory team
- Reference material/links
The student will have the opportunity to work in the Particles and Catalysis Research Group (PartCat) under the guidance of Scientia Professor Rose Amal. The student will have the access to computational tools for techno-economic studies. The student will work in a multidisciplinary research environment and learn various functional skills to facilitate a future career in academia or industry.
The student is expected to gain experience in process design and economic feasibility analysis. The project will also provide an opportunity for the student to collaborate with other research students, gaining valuable interdisciplinary experience. The knowledge and data generated will contribute as input to industry stakeholders and will result in a publication in a scientific journal.
- Gunawan, D. et al. (2024). Materials Advances in Photocatalytic Solar Hydrogen Production: Integrating Systems and Economics for a Sustainable Future. Adv. Mater. 36, 42, 2404618.
- Wang, Q. et al. (2021). Strategies to improve light utilization in solar fuel synthesis. Nat. Energy 7, 13-24.
- Pinaud, B. A. et al. (2013). Technical and Economic Feasibility of Centralized Facilities for Solar Hydrogen Production via Photocatalysis and Photoelectrochemistry. Energy Environ. Sci. 6, 1983-2002.