Liquid Solar Fuel – Liquid Hydrocarbons from Solar Energy and Biomass

The Liquid Solar Fuel (LSF) concept aims to provide renewable-energy-based fuels like synthetic Diesel and Kerosene for long-distance transport via trucks, ships and airplanes and for remote machinery. The purpose of this paper is to present a preliminary design and performance model of a small scale plant with a rated production capacity of 100 barrels per day. First technical and economic performance estimates suggest that an achievable process efficiency around 50% and a product cost of ca. 1 US$/liter for large scale units in the medium term future can be attractive when compared to similar processes like power-to-liquid or biomass-to-liquid.