Developed jointed by BARR Engineering, Diver Solar LLC, Oregon State University, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the Solar Thermochemical Advanced Reactor System, or STARS, converts natural gas and sunlight into a more energy-rich fuel called syngas, which power plants can burn to make electricity. The STARS uses a mirrored parabolic dish to concentrate sunlight on a pod about four feet long and two feet wide. The device contains a chemical reactor and several heat exchangers. Concentrated sunlight heats up the natural gas flowing through the reactor's channels, which hold a catalyst that helps turn natural gas into syngas. STARS has set a world record with 69 percent of the solar energy that hit the system's mirrored dish converted into chemical energy contained in the syngas. Thanks to its technical significance, STARS was a recipient of a 2014 R&D 100 Award.

This project could impact the market in just a few years as the core technology, micro- and meso-channel reactors and heat exchangers, has already received several years of development at PNNL in projects for the US Department of Energy, the US Department of Defense, and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Discussions with potential commercial partners are already underway.

Positive Impact

Solar Thermochemical Advanced Reactor System, or STARS, converts natural gas and sunlight into a more energy-rich fuel called syngas, which power plants can burn to make electricity.

Locations

Richland, Washington

Partners

BARR Engineering, Diver Solar LLC, Oregon State University, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

EERE Investment

$3.5 million

Clean Energy Sector

Renewable electricity generation

The Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) focuses on achieving the goals of the SunShot Initiative, which seeks to make solar energy cost-competitive with other forms of electricity by the end of the decade.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) success stories highlight the positive impact of its work with businesses, industry partners, universities, research labs, and other entities.