Global carbon-recycling energy delivery system for CO2 mitigation (III) -: Fossil/solar energy hybridization system for utilization of carbon as solar energy carrier

Scenario to start-up global carbon-recycling energy delivery system (GCRED-system) has been studied from a point of fossil/solar energy hybridization using solar thermochemical process. Construction of the solar farm of SCOT (Solar Concentration Off-Tower; central receiver beam-down configuration) is the key step to launch the project. The solar-assisted coal gasification system with the SCOT-solar farm can produce solar methanol, whose cost is competitive to the present gasoline cost. For further reduction of the CO2 emission, the coal for production of solar methanol should be gradually replaced by the CO2 recovered at fossil-fired power plant (shift to GCRED-system). In this stage, the solar-assisted coal gasification reactor with the SCOT-solar farm is gradually used for natural gas decomposition reaction and the 2-step water splitting reaction using metal oxides to produce the solar H-2.