A Swiss company’s pilot plant in Germany is focusing on the production of solar fuels to replace fossil fuels in the transport industry in the future. Industrial valve manufacturer OHL Gutermuth has supplied the plant with KXS model shut-off valves that are used in the thermochemical reactor.
The Swiss start-up company put the plant for the production of synthetic fuels into operation in June 2024 with the aim of promoting the decarbonisation of aviation and shipping with a mix of various innovative technologies. To this end, solar energy is used and CO2 filtered from the air. The environmentally friendly solar fuels are to replace kerosene, diesel, and other fossil fuels in the future and be compatible with all conventional aircraft, ships, and cars.
The functionality is based on concentrating sunlight to such an extent that high temperatures of approx. 1500 °C are reached. This solar energy is available as process heat and can be used in a thermal reactor for transition processes. The Cleantech company has installed the shut-off valves from OHL Gutermuth for the process chain that takes place within the reactor. Further plant processes will later result in synthetic fuels.
OHL Gutermuth Industrial Valves is headquartered in Altenstadt and has decades of expertise in the solar sector. The Hessian company is involved in more than 60 reference projects in the field of solar energy and CSP worldwide. The butterfly valves, shut-off valves, valves, and special valves from OHL Gutermuth are ‘Made in Germany’ and are tested to the highest standards.
