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Researchers from SINTEF, in collaboration with Svalin Solar, have developed a hybrid solar system in Trondheim that goes beyond conventional electricity generation. Its design allows for the production of electricity while simultaneously recovering useful heat for demanding industrial processes such as CO₂ capture.
This energy integration marks a paradigm shift in the way solar energy is applied in industrial settings.
The solar modules, 5 meters high, combine photovoltaic cells with inclined mirrors that concentrate solar radiation. Under the panels, liquid-filled pipes capture the heat, reaching temperatures of up to 60 °C.
To reach the 130 °C necessary for carbon capture, the system incorporates an advanced heat pump that uses the generated electricity to raise the water temperature.
Additionally, a solar tracker constantly orients the modules towards the sun, optimizing both electrical and thermal capture. The result is a hybrid scheme that maximizes solar radiation and reduces energy losses.
CO₂ capture is an energy-intensive process, typically requiring about 3.1 megajoules per metric ton. In tests conducted at the Multiphase laboratory in Tiller, the new system reduced that consumption by 0.52 megajoules per ton, which is a 17% reduction.
Although this may seem like a moderate reduction, in industries that capture hundreds of thousands of tons per year, the accumulated savings are enormous. Models suggest that with improvements in solar concentration and reduction of thermal losses, the reduction could reach up to 39%.
Performance depends on the available solar radiation. In gray Nordic conditions, the system requires additional electrical support to maintain the operating temperature.
This limitation is common to all solar thermal solutions, but the team acknowledges that performance would be much higher in sunnier latitudes.
After validating the model in Trondheim, the system will be moved to a glass manufacturing plant in Italy, a sector highly intensive in thermal energy and with emissions that are difficult to reduce. There, its continuous performance, maintenance, integration with existing processes, and operational stability will be evaluated.
If it proves effective in industrial conditions, the potential for replication in cement plants, steel mills, and chemical industries is evident. These sectors face significant challenges in electrifying thermal processes and need intermediate solutions that reduce emissions without relying exclusively on fossil fuels.
The system is supported by several pillars:
The development by SINTEF shows how the combination of concentrated solar energy, heat pumps, and carbon capture can contribute to a more realistic and progressive industrial decarbonization. It does not replace the need to reduce emissions at the source, but it improves the efficiency of processes that will remain part of the European climate mix for decades.
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Director/Propietario:
Luis Pavesio
Registro DNDA en trámite
Fecha: 24/02/2026
N° de Edición: 4895
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