May 14, 2025, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

DLR Solar Colloquium 2025

Solar processes for the chemical industry

This year the 28th DLR Solar Colloquium focused on the integration of solar energy into chemical processes. Solar technologies can provide different forms of energy opening up a wide range of possible applications for the chemical industry. They can play a key role in the decarbonization of the chemical industry and in enabling new innovative processes for the production of synthetic fuels. The Colloquium showed challenges, solutions and latest developments in the integration of solar energy into new and known chemical processes.

At the Solar Colloquium, we brought together experts from industry and research for an inspiring exchange on those topics.

Are you a researcher, industry professional, in higher education or simply a solar enthusiast? Then this event is the perfect opportunity to learn about the latest advances in the sector and to network with other experts in the field.

We were delighted that you took part in this valuable exchange on solar energy.

Programme

Time

Presentation title

Speaker

From 09:00

Arrival and registration

 

10:00

Welcome and Introduction

Prof. Dr. Christian Sattler

Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Pitz-Paal

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Hoffschmidt

Part 1

10:15 - 11:35

Reports and trends from industry

Session Chair: Dr. Nicole Janotte (DLR Institute of Future Fuels)

10:15

Decarbonisation in the sulphuric acid industry

Martin Kürten (GRILLO Chemicals GmbH)

Dr. Dimitrios Dimitrakis (DLR Institute of Future Fuels)

10:55

HELISOL® – Innovative heat transfer fluids with unmatched versatility

Dr. Maximilian Moxter (Wacker Chemie AG)

11:15

Plant DAWN – Review of one year of operating experience

David Rutz (Synhelion SA)

11:35 - 12:00

Coffee break

 

Part 2

12:00 - 13:00

New developments and networks

Session Chair: Dr. Martina Reichert (DLR Institute of Future Fuels)

12:00

John Cockerill Modular CSP Tower Plant

Stéphane Boulanger (John Cockerill Energy)

12:20

Overview of methanol projects at DLR

Dr. Jürgen Dersch (DLR Institute of Solar Research)

Enric Prats (DLR Institute of Future Fuels)

12:40

HelioHub: A Cross-Border Solar Energy Excellence Hub to accelerate the Green Transition

Prof. Dr. Derek Baker (Middle East Technical University)

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch break

 

Part 3

14:00 - 15:30

Research and infrastructure

Session Chair: Dr. Jana Stengler (DLR Institute of Solar Research)

14:00

An efficient and scalable approach to synthesizing sustainable fuels by way of solar thermochemistry

Prof. Dr. Kent Warren (ETH Zürich)

14:20

Solar-powered membrane reactors for hydrogen and syngas production

Dr. Nicole Neumann (DLR Institute of Future Fuels)

14:40

Solar conversion of various biomass for biofuel purpose

Dr. Clarisse Lorreyte (DLR Institute of Future Fuels)

15:00

GFE Jülich - unique test infrastructure for solar-thermochemical processes up to 10 MW

Dr. Kai Wieghardt (DLR Institute of Solar Research)

15:20

Closing remarks

Prof. Dr. Christian Sattler

Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Pitz-Paal

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Hoffschmidt

15:30 - 16:30

Tour of the Solar Towers Jülich and the Synlight® Solar Simulator

 

15:30

Get together

 

Registration fee

Regular participant 

Student

150,00 € excl. VAT

50,00 € incl. VAT

Location

German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Institutes of Future Fuels and Solar Research
Im Langenbroich 13
52428 Jülich

Contact

Institut für Future Fuels

German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Im Langenbroich 13, 52428 Jülich
Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 2461 93730-350