科學家警告，我們必須在2050年前停止燃燒化石燃料，但生活中仍然免不了使用碳氫化合物。芬蘭的Soletair碳捕捉示範工廠，便提供了雙贏的選擇，成功從空氣中直接捕捉二氧化碳，製成再生燃料和化學品，預計在今年夏天進入試產階段。
Soletair是世界上第一個結合太陽能發電和碳氫化合物生產於同一地點的示範工廠，由芬蘭政府的非營利VTT技術研究中心和拉彭蘭塔理工大學（Lappeenranta University of Technology，LUT）合作開發，和LUT的太陽能電廠協同運作。工廠的主要目的是展示整個技術的效能，並製造200公升（211夸脫）的燃料和其他碳氫化合物供研究用。
工廠由四個獨立運作的單位組成——一座太陽能發電廠、從空氣中分離出二氧化碳和水的設備、一套電解產生氫的設備，以及用二氧化碳和氫氣生產原油替代物的合成設備。
研究人員表示，雖然人類必須在2050年停止燃燒化石燃料以控制地球的暖化速度，還是需要這樣的流程供應人類所需的碳氫化合物。
「我們所示範的概念是未來化學業電氣化的其中一種可能性。2050年起人類必須停止燃燒化石燃料，但人類仍然需要碳氫化合物。」LUT教授Jero Ahola說。
VTT和LUT將在今年夏天測試Soletair示範工廠。試產完成後，未來幾年內合成設備將導入多個歐盟專案，並成為跨國企業進行相關研究的平台。
「示範工廠將促進跨產業的工業整合和專業技術的累積。」負責專案協調的VTT首席科學家Pekka Simell說。
示範工廠的設計是小型、分散式，可透過增加單位來擴張產能。
專案進行期間搜集來的資訊能應用於技術的商業化。科學家已預見這個計畫將為不少企業帶來商機，包括碳循環經濟供應鏈和化學公司。
VTT和LUT投資100萬歐元於Soletair示範工廠設備。研究計畫資助者包括國家技術創新局（Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation, Tekes）、芬蘭綠能、芬蘭運輸安全局，以及電力和自動化技術集團ABB等公司。
A unique demonstration plant in Finland has proven that carbon dioxide (CO2) can be taken directly from the air and used to produce renewable fuels and chemicals.
The Soletair demo plant developed by the state owned nonprofit VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Lappeenranta University of Technology, LUT, is coupled to LUT’s solar power plant in Lappeenranta.
The aim of the project is to demonstrate the technical performance of the overall process and produce 200 liters (211 quarts) of fuels and other hydrocarbons for research purposes.
This is a one-of-a-kind demo plant in which the entire process chain, from solar power generation to hydrocarbon production, is in the same place.
The demo plant is made up of four separate units: a solar power plant; equipment for separating CO2 and water from the air; a section that uses electrolysis to produce hydrogen; and synthesis equipment for producing a crude oil substitute from carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
The researchers say that although humans must stop burning fossil fuels by the 2050 to control Earth’s rapidly warming climate, this process can supply in a sustainable manner the hydrocarbons humans will still need.
“The concept we are exploring is an example of how the chemical industry could be electrified in the future. The burning of fossil fuels must end by 2050, but people will continue to need some hydrocarbons,” said Professor Jero Ahola of the Lappeenranta University of Technology.
VTT and LUT will test the Soletair demonstration plant during the summer. After the pilot phase is complete, synthesis units will be used in a number of European Union projects over the next few years.
“The result will be multi-sectoral industrial integration. Finnish industry’s expertise in this area is being reinforced by collaboration,” said principal scientist Pekka Simell of VTT, who is in charge of coordinating the project.
Pilot-scale units have been designed for distributed, small-scale production. Production capacity can be increased by adding more units.
The Soletair plant will provide a platform for conducting research with international companies.
Information gathered during the project will be useful for the commercialization of the technologies. The scientists foresee new business opportunities arising for companies, such as those benefiting from the carbon circular economy or surplus electricity, or for chemical companies.
VTT and LUT have invested one million euros in the equipment. The research is being funded by Tekes and a number of companies: ABB, ENE Solar Systems, Green Energy Finland, Proventia, Hydrocell, Ineratec, Woikoski, Gasum and the Finnish Transport Safety Agency (Trafi).
※ 全文及圖片詳見：ENS
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