Solar Thermochemical Processes Research Articles

Thermal Performance Assessment of a Novel Hybrid Reactor for Solar Thermochemical Processes

Solar thermochemical conversion processes offer a promising pathway for converting sunlight into clean, sustainable, and carbon-neutral fuels. A solar chemical reactor is one of the most essential components that utilizes concentrated solar energy to drive chemical reactions. In this study, a novel hybrid solar reactor is designed, fabricated, and tested to assess its thermal performance for the purpose of studying the solar thermochemical conversion processes in Thailand for the first time. It was performed under different heating modes regarding solar heat and/or electrical heat, with the aim to support day-and-night operation and variations in solar radiation conditions. The reactor was experimentally tested under on-sun, off-sun, and hybrid conditions using air as a heat transfer fluid. As a result, with one kWth solar thermal power input absorbed, the solar reactor achieved high temperatures exceeding 500 °C from the hybrid system while the reactor absorption efficiency was found to be 4%. The reactor demonstrated the possibility and reliability of performing solar thermochemical conversion processes under day-and-night and unstable solar radiation conditions.

Green iron and syngas production via continuous solar-driven agricultural waste biomass gasification combined with iron(III) oxide reduction

The production of renewable synthetic fuels and chemicals from solar energy and agricultural waste biomass is considered. Solar thermochemical conversion processes offer a promising pathway to a sustainable fuel economy and green chemical industry. This study investigates the continuous solar-driven gasification of agricultural biomass (betel nut waste) combined with iron oxide (Fe2O3) reduction to produce carbon-neutral syngas and green metallic iron in a single process. A thermodynamic analysis of the system was initially conducted to predict the distribution of equilibrium products. Then, on-sun continuous processing was experimentally carried out under different operating conditions, including betel/Fe2O3 molar ratios (0.56–1.5) and temperatures (900–1200 °C) to evaluate the process feasibility and reliability. As a result, solar gasification of betel nut waste combined with Fe2O3 reduction performed exceptionally well with continuous reactant particles feeding, demonstrating a feasible pathway for producing green iron and high-quality syngas. The maximum syngas yield reached 63.3 mmol/gdry_betel, approaching its theoretical value, and high-purity Fe was simultaneously produced. The process demonstrated high efficiency, with maximum carbon conversion approaching 98 %, energy upgrade factor up to 1.26, and solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency up to 14.4 %, highlighting remarkable conversion performance of biomass and solar energy to chemicals.

Comparison of non-isothermal and isothermal cycles in a novel methane-assisted two-step thermochemical process

As driven by thermodynamics and reaction kinetics considerations, conventional two-step solar thermochemical processes typically rely on non-isothermal cycling conditions to effectively couple the endothermic reduction and exothermic oxidation reactions. Nevertheless, recent discussions on isothermal cycles based on thermodynamics simulation and material characterization have sparked dissenting opinions, as certain reaction processes operating under isothermal cycling conditions have demonstrated the possibility of achieving higher energy conversion efficiency. To delve further into such phenomenon and potentially unveil the underlying scientific principles, this study conducts a reaction kinetic analysis and lab-scale systematic experiments on a novel methane-assisted two-step thermochemical process using iron-based oxygen carriers. Despite the fact that the reaction kinetics analysis of iron oxides indicates that isothermal cycles at reaction temperatures of 573–1173 K do not provide significant advantages in terms of energy conversion efficiency, surprisingly, the experiments conducted with the prepared cobalt–nickel ferrite materials conclude oppositely. More specifically, the observed increase in material reactivity with rising oxidation temperature contributes to an approximately two-fold enhancement in the CO yield under isothermal conditions, as well as a noteworthy improvement of about 15% in solar-to-fuel efficiency. This energy efficiency improvement could be attributed, at least in part, to the stable reaction temperature during isothermal cycling, which effectively mitigates the challenges associated with solid-phase sensible heat recovery caused by significant temperature fluctuations, particularly when operating at high feed flow rates. Accordingly, the applicability of isothermal cycles is linked to two crucial factors: the reactivity of the oxygen carrier and the specific operating conditions employed. The experiments herein conducted showed that the catalytic activity of the material reached a relatively stable state after 24 h of reaction, resulting in a peak CO yield of 20.5 mL min−1 g−1 and a CO2 conversion exceeding 90%. Thorough analyses reveal several optimization measures for enhancing efficiency under the setting of the reaction system.

Universal expressions of solar thermochemical efficiency

The calculation of efficiency of solar thermochemical processes has become a field of dispute for the relevant scientific community. Numerous expressions are available in the literature but most of them are ambiguous, conflicting or even overlapping. The lack of a unanimously acceptable approach is caused mainly by the form of the proposed equations, many of which are unclear and open to interpretation. This article proposes a set of simple, yet concrete expressions that can fully describe the solar thermochemical processes starting from the material, to reactor and finally the system level. According to the scale, each expression incorporates the key factors that determine the performance of the technology and all parameters involved per case are explained in a clear manner. Furthermore, they can be readily used to assess any thermochemical process without any limitation, thereby contributing towards the standardization of STCs benchmarking.

Perspectives in advance technologies/strategies for combating rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere via CO2 utilisation: A review

This review provides exhaustive literature on carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, storage and utilization. CO2 is one of the greenhouse gas, emitted into the atmosphere and has reached an alarming level of well above 400 ppm. The consequences of rising CO2 levels and global warming are visual in day today life such as floods, wildfires, droughts and irregular precipitation cycles. Several reviews, focused on a particular topic, have been published since the 19th century and recently. However, in this review, we have attempted to cover all the CO2 mitigation techniques available for their advantages and disadvantages have been discussed. The blooming technology of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and the pros and cons of CO2 capture, transportation and storage techniques are showcased. Interestingly the transportation of captured CO2 to the potential storage sites requires more than 50% of the total energy budget, therefore, this review is dedicated to the onsite CO2 conversion into value-added chemicals. Various technological advancements for CO2 conversion into other products by the solar thermochemical, electrochemical and photochemical processes have been analysed. From the extensive literature, it’s demonstrated that NTP (Non-Thermal Plasma) is one of the emerging techniques for the direct conversion of CO2 into value-added products as it is energetically efficient. The mechanisms of CO2 activation by thermal and NTP-catalysis have been discussed. Moreover, the benefits of DBD to obtain oxygenates like methanol, aldehydes, acids, and hydrocarbons from direct one-pot synthesis are discussed. The production of such value-added chemicals from CO2 is of prime importance as it will be our step towards a carbon-neutral economy which is the need of the hour. This review has also attempted to compare the cost-effectiveness of current existing techniques for CO2 capture and utilized solar to fuel efficiency to compare distinct technologies available for the utilization of CO2 to value-added chemicals.

Evaluation of the solar thermal storage of fluidized bed materials for hybrid solar thermo-chemical processes

Evaluation of the solar thermal storage of fluidized bed materials for hybrid solar thermo-chemical processes

Design Evaluation of a Next-Generation High-Temperature Particle Receiver for Concentrating Solar Thermal Applications

High-temperature particle receivers are being developed to achieve temperatures in excess of 700 °C for advanced power cycles and solar thermochemical processes. This paper describes designs and features of a falling particle receiver system that has been evaluated and tested at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility at Sandia National Laboratories. These advanced designs are intended to reduce heat losses and increase the thermal efficiency. Novel features include aperture covers, active air flow, particle flow obstructions, and optimized receiver shapes that minimize advective heat losses, increase particle curtain opacity and uniformity, and reduce cavity wall temperatures. Control systems are implemented in recent on-sun tests to maintain a desired particle outlet temperature using an automated closed-loop proportional–integral–derivative controller. These tests demonstrate the ability to achieve and maintain particle outlet temperatures approaching 800 °C with efficiencies between 60 and 90%, depending on incident power, mass flow, and environmental conditions. Lessons learned regarding the testing of design features and overall receiver operation are also presented.

(Invited) An Overview of the U.S. Department of Energy's Consortia Focused on Enabling Low-Cost Hydrogen Production Via Water Splitting Technologies

Hydrogen provides a unique opportunity for affordable, reliable, clean, and secure energy across sectors, many of which can be hard to decarbonize. To enable low-cost and sustainable hydrogen production at scale, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) supports RD&D to address critical challenges and barriers across a broad portfolio of hydrogen production technologies. One very promising pathway for large-scale hydrogen production is water splitting.Water splitting technologies range from commercial technologies such as electrolyzers, which are currently manufactured at the MW scale, to approaches that are at a much earlier stage of development, such as photoelectrochemical (PEC) and solar thermochemical (STCH) processes. All these water splitting pathways offer diverse benefits in energy storage, grid services, and cross-sector emissions reductions while taking advantage of our abundant renewable, nuclear, or fossil energy resources. However, as with most innovative and potentially high-impact clean energy technologies, critical materials-, component- and system-level challenges must be addressed to improve efficiency and durability, as well as reduce cost. As such, HFTO initiated the HydroGEN Advanced Water Splitting Materials (AWSM) Consortium in 2017 and recently launched the H2 from the Next-generation of Electrolyzers of Water (H2NEW) consortium.HydroGEN (https://www.h2awsm.org/), one of DOE’s 7 Energy Materials Network (EMN) consortia is dedicated to accelerating the materials R&D of low TRL advanced water splitting (AWS) technologies, is now in its second phase. The consortium comprises five core national laboratories and focuses on four early stage AWS pathways: alkaline exchange membrane (AEM) electrolysis, proton conducting high temperature electrolysis, photoelectrochemical, and solar thermochemical water splitting. Providing streamlined access to world-class expertise and experimental and computational capabilities, the consortium is currently supporting 23 university, industry and national laboratory R&D projects seeking to discover and design new materials to increase efficiency and durability of water-splitting systems. In addition, HydroGEN has recently initiated consortium-led efforts focused on the most critical barriers to these AWS pathways.With PEM electrolyzers already commercial and significant advancements in oxygen conducting solid oxide electrolysis cells (O-SOECs) realized, the critical R&D needs for these technologies are no longer at the foundational, materials development level. Yet these systems are still too expensive for wide-scale commercialization. To enable high-volume manufacturing of affordable, durable, efficient electrolyzers, H2NEW, another multi-lab consortium, was established in 2020. This comprehensive, concerted effort is focused on overcoming barriers related to components and materials integration, with an initial focus on durability, to achieve <$2/kg H2.

Review on Solar Thermochemical Processing for Lunar Applications and Their Heat Transfer Modeling Methods

Abstract Harnessing concentrated high-flux solar energy to drive thermal processes over 1000 °C for fuel production and material processing has great potential to address environmental issues associated with fossil fuels. There is now also interest in solar thermal processing under extraterrestrial (e.g., lunar) conditions, which has the potential to provide materials and power for future space exploration and base construction with local resources as feedstock. In this review article, the recent progress on conventional solar thermochemical systems used for lunar production is reviewed. Important results are discussed to identify the applicability of existing devices and models at lunar conditions. Finally, the challenges ahead and promising directions are presented.

Performance Indicators for Benchmarking Solar Thermochemical Fuel Processes and Reactors

Concentrated solar energy offers a source for renewable high-temperature process heat that can be used to efficiently drive endothermic chemical processes, converting the entire spectrum of solar radiation into chemical energy. In particular, solar-driven thermochemical processes for the production of fuels include reforming of methane and other hydrocarbons, gasification of biomass, coal, and other carbonaceous feedstock, and metal oxide redox cycles for splitting H2O and CO2. A notable issue in the development of these processes and their associated solar reactors is the lack of consistent reporting methods for experimental demonstrations and modelling studies, which complicates the benchmarking of the corresponding technologies. In this work we formulate dimensionless performance indicators based on mass and energy balances of such reacting systems, namely: energy efficiency, conversion extent, selectivity, and yield. Examples are outlined for the generic processes mention above. We then provide guidelines for reporting on such processes and reactors and suggest performance benchmarking on four key criteria: energy efficiency, conversion extent, product selectivity, and performance stability.

Solar thermo-chemical process assisting a pressure oxidation process for co-production of electricity and metal

The mining industry is looking at the use of solar energy to address issues related to highly variable energy prices, falling ore grades, and increasing concern about the industry’s carbon footprint. The pressure oxidation of ore sulfides is an economic alternative to the smelting process because it has the potential to reduce energy consumption and treat low-grade ores. In the pressure oxidation of ore sulfides, the purity and utilization of oxygen are key factors. Indeed, oxygen production and consumption constitute the major operating cost of the pressure oxidation process. Solar thermo-chemical looping processes have been identified as one of the most efficient pathways for the production and storage of oxygen. This study investigates the integration of a solar thermo-chemical looping process with a pressure oxidation process to treat ore sulfide and produce electricity. The analysis shows that the temperature of the cold storage tank has a strong influence on the performance of the complete system. The increase in the cold tank temperature results in a sharp decrease in the size of the receiver. This reduces the investment costs for both the solar receiver and the heliostat field. For the considered case, the useful heat of the solar receiver is 3.7 MWth when the cold tank temperature is set at 100°C. If the cold tank temperature is set at 400°C, the required useful solar heat is about 3.1 MWth and the nominal output of the gas turbine is 0.56 MWe. The analysis showed that about 80% of the useful solar heat can be used to generate oxygen when the temperature of the cold tank is as high as that of the reduction reaction

Solar-driven thermochemical redox cycles of ZrO2 supported NiFe2O4 for CO2 reduction into chemical energy

In this study, solar thermal power coupled with a direct irradiated solar thermochemical reactor using porous-medium NiFe2O4@ZrO2 oxygen exchange material was investigated by combining experiments to the numerical models. The ability of ZrO2, NiFe2O4, and NiFe2O4@ZrO2 to release/uptake O2 and their CO2-splitting characteristics are analyzed by the thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and the microstructural changes and chemical composition of NiFe2O4@ZrO2 are examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The experiment performed with a redox thermochemical reactor under a high-flux solar spectrum resulted in a total of 337.89 mL of CO collected during 46 min of CO2-splitting over NiFe2O4@ZrO2 redox material. Higher CO2-splitting activity of NiFe2O4 resulting in 186.545 μmol/g and 130.707 μmol/g of CO yield at 1293-795 °C and 100 sccm of CO2 flow rate were obtained by TGA at the first and second cycle, respectively. The results of both experiments showed significant CO yield at the early stages of oxygen carriers’ re-oxidation with CO2. This study provided important results that could have significant contributions to the solar thermochemical energy storage and CO2 chemical transformation processes.

Solar assisted catalytic thermochemical processes: pyrolysis and hydropyrolysis of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii microalgae

Thermochemical processes using solar energy are considered promising approaches. To improve the product properties, alternative techniques have also been investigated, including the use of catalyst and hydrogen atmosphere. These techniques individually have proved to be efficient to overcome some inherent challenges of this process. However, they have never been studied as an integrated process. Thus, in this work the solar assisted catalytic hydropyrolysis process using microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as biomass source and hydrotalcite-derived mixed oxides as catalyst (in an ex-situ approach) was successfully investigated as an integrated approach. The effects of reaction time and catalyst percentage on the product distribution and the bio-oil content produced from distinct processes: ex-situ catalytic solar pyrolysis (CSP) and ex-situ catalytic solar hydropyrolysis (CSH) were investigated. The hydrogen used in CSH has been produced by solar aqueous alkaline electrolysis. The results showed that CSH produced higher liquid yields than CSP, reaching 48.83% in its best condition. The content of oxygenated compounds in bio-oil produced by hydropyrolysis was, on average, about 12% lower than that obtained by CSP. However, CSP presented individual tests with less nitrogenated (6.01%) and oxygenated (22.49%) compounds. The hydrocarbon production reached 35.58% for CSP and 37.01% for CSH.

Thermophysical and optical properties of NiCo2O4@ZrO2: A potential composite for thermochemical processes

The use of solar energy through thermochemical processes is an important approach to drive endothermic reactions to produce solar fuels such as hydrogen or syngas. This work reports the preparation and the thermophysical characterization of a porous composite based on zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) and nickel cobaltite (NiCo2O4) nanoparticles for applications in thermochemical processes at high temperatures. The ZrO2 supports were modified with NiCo2O4 nanoparticles by a low-cost and straightforward impregnation process following by thermal treatment at 773 K. The impregnated NiCo2O4 obtained is formed by nanoparticles with an average size of 50 nm favoring a complete and homogenous covering of ZrO2 supports. The thermal properties of ZrO2 supports and NiCo2O4@ZrO2 composites were evaluated in the temperature range from 300 to 1250 K. Besides, the solar absorbance and thermal emittance values were measured. After depositing the nickel cobaltite nanoparticles in the supports, it has been observed that the thermal properties have changed slightly so that the added nanoparticles do not significantly change the thermal performance of the materials. The nickel cobaltite nanoparticles deposited on the surface of the ZrO2 supports causes a strong increase in solar absorbance. This improves the efficiency of solar thermal conversion. Our results have shown that NiCo2O4@ZrO2 has excellent characteristics to be used in solar thermochemical processes.

Solar-Driven Chemical Looping Methane Reforming Using ZnO Oxygen Carrier for Syngas and Zn Production in a Cavity-Type Solar Reactor

Converting sunlight into chemical fuels and metal commodities, via solar thermochemical conversion processes, is an attractive prospect for the long-term storage of renewable energy. In this study, the combined methane reforming and ZnO reduction in a single reaction for co-production of hydrogen-rich syngas and metallic Zn was demonstrated in a flexible solar thermochemical reactor prototype, driven by highly concentrated sunlight. Using solar energy as the process heat source in chemical-looping methane reforming with the ZnO/Zn oxygen carrier is a means to reduce the dependence on conventional energy resources and to reduce emissions of CO2 and other pollutants, while upgrading the calorific value of the feedstock for the production of energy-intensive and high-value chemical fuels and materials. On-sun experiments were carried out with different operating parameters including operating temperatures (800–1000 °C), inlet methane flow-rates (0.1–0.4 NL/min), and inlet ZnO feeding-rates (0.5–1.0 g/min) both in batch and continuous modes under reduced (0.15 and 0.45 bar) and atmospheric pressures (0.90 bar), thereby demonstrating solar reactor flexibility and reliability. As a result, increasing the temperature promoted net ZnO conversion at the expense of favored methane cracking reaction, which can be lowered by decreasing pressure to vacuum conditions. Diminishing total pressure improved the net ZnO conversion but favored CO2 yield due to insufficient gas residence time. Rising ZnO feeding rate under a constant over-stoichiometric CH4/ZnO molar ratio of 1.5 enhanced ZnO and methane consumption rates, which promoted Zn and syngas yields. However, an excessively high ZnO feeding rate may be detrimental, as ZnO could accumulate when the ZnO feeding rate is higher than the ZnO consumption rate. In comparison, continuous operation demonstrated greater performance regarding higher ZnO conversion (XZnO) and lower methane cracking than batch operation. High-purity metallic Zn with a well-crystallized structure and of micrometric size was produced from both batch and continuous tests under vacuum and atmospheric pressures, demonstrating suitable reactor performance for the solar thermochemical methane-driven ZnO reduction process. The produced Zn metal can be further re-oxidized with H2O or CO2 in an exothermic reaction to produce pure H2 or CO by chemical-looping.

Exploring Ca–Ce–M–O (M = 3d Transition Metal) Oxide Perovskites for Solar Thermochemical Applications

Solar thermochemical (STC) processes hold promise as efficient ways to generate renewable fuels, fuel precursors, or chemical feedstocks using concentrated sunlight. Specifically, one actively rese...

Combined ZnO reduction and methane reforming for co-production of pure Zn and syngas in a prototype solar thermochemical reactor

Solar thermochemical conversion processes offer a promising avenue for storing intermittent solar energy into high value chemical products. A directly-irradiated packed-bed reactor was developed to experimentally investigate the solar thermochemical methane reforming combined with ZnO reduction for co-production of Zn and syngas in a single process. On-sun experiments were conducted to demonstrate reliable process operation and to identify optimal operating conditions, considering the impact of reduced and atmospheric pressures, temperatures, and inlet methane flow-rates. A pressure decrease enhanced net ZnO conversion at the expense of lowered syngas selectivity attributed to the CO2 increase because of insufficient gas residence time. Increasing temperature promoted syngas production rate, yield, ZnO and methane conversion at the expense of favored methane cracking which can be alleviated by lowering pressure. The maximum H2 and CO yields of 28.4 and 4.6 mmol/gZnO, and the maximum net ZnO conversion and methane conversion (67.3% and 57.6%) were achieved from non-isothermal tests. The calorific value of chemical products was upgraded by solar energy (U up to 1.31), and ηsolar-to-chemical = 3.9% was achieved. Pure and highly reactive metallic Zn was produced with well crystallized structure in micrometric size, demonstrating the feasibility of combined solar methane reforming and ZnO reduction for synthetic fuel production and sustainable Zn metallurgy.

Monte Carlo Ray Tracing-Coupled Computational Fluid Dynamic Modeling and Experimental Testing of a 1-kW Solar Cavity Receiver Radiated via 7-kW HFSS

Abstract Current state-of-the-art development of concentrated solar power (CSP) applications targets cost-effective and highly efficient processes in order to establish commercialization of these technologies. The design of solar receivers/reactors and their respective flow configuration have a direct impact on the operational performance of the solar thermochemical processes. Thermal efficiencies, reaction kinetics, and other key output metrics are the intrinsic result of the chosen configuration. Therefore, reactor design optimization plays a crucial role in the development of solar thermochemical applications. In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a directly-irradiated cavity receiver has been developed. The CFD-domain is coupled with incoming radiation that is obtained by using Monte Carlo ray tracing (MCRT). Experimental campaigns of the cavity receiver were carried out using a 7-kW high flux solar simulator (HFSS) as a radiative source. Temperature readings were obtained at different locations inside the cavity receiver for both wall and gas temperatures. In order to mimic naturally changing insolation conditions, the HFSS was run at different power levels. Heat flux at the aperture of the solar receiver was experimentally characterized. The acquired heat flux maps validated the intermediate results obtained with the MCRT method. The coupled computational model was validated against the measured temperatures at different locations inside the receiver. Computed temperature contours inside the receiver confirmed the experimentally observed non-uniformity of the axial temperature distribution. The validated analysis presented in this paper was then used as a baseline case for a parametric study. Design optimization efforts were undertaken toward obtaining temperature uniformity and achieving efficient heat transfer within the fluid domain. Enhanced flow circulation was achieved which yielded temperature uniformity of the receiver at steady-state conditions. The outcome of this parametric analysis provided valuable insights into the development of thermal efficient solar cavity receivers. Hence, findings of this study will serve as a starting point for the future solar reactor design. For example, it was found that reversing flow direction has an adverse effect on the temperature uniformity inside the receiver. Similarly, increasing the inlet angle does not positively affect the temperature distribution and hence should be chosen carefully when designing a solar reactor.

Redox thermochemistry of Ca-Mn-based perovskites for oxygen atmosphere control in solar-thermochemical processes

Sustainable energy supply is a crucial issue in times of climate change and receding fossil energy reserves. The emerging field of solar-driven thermochemical H2O and CO2 splitting cycles is a very promising approach to address this challenge. Providing low oxygen partial pressures is crucial in these processes. This issue is tackled by either high vacuum pumping or inert-gas sweeping. Both techniques come with a rather high energy penalty, leading to lower efficiencies of the whole process. Thermochemical oxygen pumping offers great potential to efficiently reduce oxygen partial pressures in these splitting cycles. In this work a material investigation campaign focusing on earth-abundant, cheap and non-toxic perovskites is presented. The experimental results are complemented with an approach to correlate this performance to inherent material properties, and in particular to the tolerance factor. In this framework, Ca-Mn-based perovskite compositions were demonstrated to function effectively as combined thermochemical oxygen-pumping and energy storage materials. Not only an almost two-fold increase of the reduction extent of ceria as a water splitting material was achieved due to the operation of perovskites as oxygen pumping materials, but this increase was rendered three-fold by applying a suitable temperature swing operation strategy. In parallel, the perovskites’ energy storage density can be significantly increased by exploiting specific phase transitions that can be rationally explained via the Goldschmidt tolerance factor. Hence, the work offers a novel approach to reach low oxygen partial pressures with minimal energy penalties and a derived model to evaluate occurring phase transitions and their corresponding heat effects.

A concentrating solar power system integrated photovoltaic and mid-temperature solar thermochemical processes

The approach of cascading solar energy utilization provides access to reliable and ample supplies of energy and has thus attracted widespread attention. Currently, the hybridization of a concentrating solar photovoltaic process and a solar thermochemical process is a promising approach. This paper describes and investigates a concentrating solar power system to harvest solar energy. Co-producing photovoltaic electricity and solar thermal fuel is its attractive distinction. The visible spectrum is cast onto concentrating photovoltaics to generate electricity, and the ultraviolet and infrared spectra are used to drive methanol decomposition at approximately 250 °C. A spectral splitting parabolic trough concentrator is developed in which incident solar radiation is first split and then concentrated. Based on the measured optical data of concentrators, photovoltaics and reactor, the solar-to-electricity performance is evaluated in the proposed system. The results show that a satisfied solar-to-electricity efficiency of approximately 31.8% would be realized if monocrystalline silicon photovoltaics is adopted. In comparison to individual systems, the efficiency enhancements of about 15.3% and 6.3% are obtained. The solar-to-electricity efficiency can reach approximately 35.1% by adopting gallium arsenide. Meanwhile, the improved optical performance proves that the approach of first splitting and then concentrating sunlight is feasible and promising. Finally, the results are anticipated to lead to a new approach for improving full-spectrum solar energy utilization and guiding the establishment of a prototype in the near future.