Hydrogen has the potential for providing much of the world’s future demand for clean energy. Solar energy is by far the largest form of clean, sustainable energy. CSIRO has successfully demonstrated the use of solar thermal concentrating dish and tower technologies to drive the steam reforming of methane-containing gas for production of solar-enriched synthesis gas or hydrogen. The 400kW solar tower facility at the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle is being used to demonstrate solar reforming. In a typical run, the solar steam reforming is conducted at reaction temperatures up to 850°C over a commercial catalyst with average methane conversion of 90% and hydrogen yield of over 300m3/h.

There is also interest in combined steam/CO2 reforming of methane. The advantages of this form of hybrid reforming are (1) High efficiency transfer of solar energy into solar-enriched syngas (CO + H2) or hydrogen; (2) The production of solar syngas with the H2/CO ratio of approximately 2:1, as required for synthesis of liquid fuels and chemical products; (3) Conversion of the greenhouse gas CO2 into useful products.

To achieve these goals, the thermodynamic calculation of the process must be performed to determine the range of operating conditions under which coke formation is minimized. Novel highly active and stable catalysts will be developed for use in solar hybrid reforming.