Solar power tech could help produce next generation synthetic fuels

Concentrated solar energy has come a long way since the days of Archimedes. According to legend, the Greek polymath defended his home city of Syracuse from Roman soldiers using giant mirrors to focus the rays of the Sun, setting the invading ships on fire. It’s a myth that has captured the imagination for centuries, celestial power harnessed by one of the great geniuses of antiquity to repel an attacking army.

Today, solar technology has advanced to a point where we now use it to power our civilisation rather than torch our enemies. Concentrated solar power (CSP) – where moving mirrors called heliostats track the movement of the Sun to focus its energy in a solar tower – is more expensive and much less common than its photovoltaic (PV) cousin. However, it does bring certain advantages, one of which is that the intense heat produced can be stored or used for processes other than electricity generation.