Solar-boosted natural gas power plants

Here's an interesting idea, especially given the optimism about natural gas production in the United States: use solar power to turn the natural gas feed into syngas with a higher energy density and lower emissions.
April 12, 2013
2 min read

Here's an interesting idea, especially given the optimism about natural gas production in the United States: use solar power to turn the natural gas feed into syngas with a higher energy density and lower emissions. This research is being done by a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) led by engineer Bob Wegeng.

The real kicker comes in the last, forward-looking paragraph:

"Though outside the scope of the current project, Wegeng also envisions a day when PNNL's solar-driven system could be used to create transportation fuels. Syngas can also be used to make synthetic crude oil, which can be refined into diesel and gasoline than runs our cars."

Full article from Phys.org:

A solar booster shot for natural gas power plants

Though outside the scope of the current project, Wegeng also envisions a day when PNNL's solar-driven system could be used to create transportation fuels. Syngas can also be used to make synthetic crude oil, which can be refined into diesel and gasoline than runs our cars.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-04-solar-booster-shot-natural-gas.html#jCp
Though outside the scope of the current project, Wegeng also envisions a day when PNNL's solar-driven system could be used to create transportation fuels. Syngas can also be used to make synthetic crude oil, which can be refined into diesel and gasoline than runs our cars.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-04-solar-booster-shot-natural-gas.html#jCp
Though outside the scope of the current project, Wegeng also envisions a day when PNNL's solar-driven system could be used to create transportation fuels. Syngas can also be used to make synthetic crude oil, which can be refined into diesel and gasoline than runs our cars.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-04-solar-booster-shot-natural-gas.html#jCp
Though outside the scope of the current project, Wegeng also envisions a day when PNNL's solar-driven system could be used to create transportation fuels. Syngas can also be used to make synthetic crude oil, which can be refined into diesel and gasoline than runs our cars.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-04-solar-booster-shot-natural-gas.html#jCp

About the Author

Doug Chandler, Senior Staff Writer

Executive Editor

Doug Chandler began writing about the electrical industry in 1992, and still finds there's never a shortage of stories to be told. So he spends his days finding them and telling them. Educationally, he's a Jayhawk with an English degree. Outside of work, he can often be found banging drums or harvesting tomatoes.

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