China conducts massive synthesis of liquid solar fuel

SHENYANG -- Chinese researchers have successfully increased the scale of synthesizing liquid solar fuel, taking a step forward to boost the use and output of renewable energy in the country.

Researchers with the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences divided the synthesis process of the liquid solar fuel into two steps: generating hydrogen decomposed from water by solar energy and making liquid fuel via carbon dioxide hydrogenation.

A 1,000-tonne industrialization of liquid solar fuel synthesis project has been launched in Lanzhou, capital city of Northwest China's Gansu Province.

Liquid solar fuel is transformed and synthesised from carbon dioxide and water, using solar energy as the sole energy supply. The synthesis process provides clean fuel, as well as utilizing greenhouse gases.

China's western regions have abundant solar energy and other renewable resources. The industrialization of the liquid solar fuel is expected to efficiently promote the utilization and output of the renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gases.