Silicon as energy carrier—Facts and perspectives

Auner, Norbert; Holl, Sven

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2005.12.001

Cited by 52 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…The silicon is then shipped around the world for electricity generation in emission-free thermal power stations which oxidise the silicon at high temperature to provide base load electricity. The storage efficiency factor is about 30%, taking into account energy losses in silicon reduction and subsequent conversion to electric power (Auner and Holl, 2006). The silicon dioxide product from power generation might be returned to the silicon smelters for reduction.…”

Section: The Technology Of a Sustainable Silicon Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is left a subject for future work to ascertain which carbon-neutral silicon smelting technology might be best suited to large scale fuel silicon production. Auner and Holl (2006) suggest a process based on reacting silica with hydrofluoric acid. An unspecified patented energy-efficient method for silicon production is referenced by Auner (2007).…”

Section: The Technology Of a Sustainable Silicon Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, an important distinction here is that metallic fuel silicon can be stored almost indefinitely in the open environment without degradation. Silicon therefore represents a more practical form of long-term energy storage than coal stockpiles, taking into account that carbon and silicon have similar energy densities (Auner and Holl, 2006).…”

Section: The Technology Of a Sustainable Silicon Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following the Auner and Holl (2006) analogy between silicon and coal, a logical use of fuel silicon derived from renewable energy would be conversion of world shipping to sustainable "silicon steamers" to both offset the emissions of the airline industry and also for the pragmatic reason of avoiding a likely marine hydrocarbon fuel tax, presently under current (2008) discussion in the United Nations. Fuel silicon supply for shipping would be maintained by bunkering facilities at suitable locations, reminiscent of the age of coal steamships.…”

Section: Silicon Shippingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It would seem that a better strategy would be to distribute research effort over as many options as possible and for as long as possible. For example, a recent paper raises the possibility of silicon as an alternative energy carrier to hydrogen (Auner and Holl, 2006). The authors were concerned mainly with technical issues and did not overview the wider implications or workings of a "silicon economy", but their findings allow the possibility of the use of silicon as a global fuel for power generation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Sustainable Global Energy Economy: Hydrogen or Silicon?

Bardsley

2008

Nat Resour Res

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A sustainable global silicon energy economy is proposed as a potential alternative to the hydrogen economy. This first visualisation of a silicon energy economy is based on largescale and carbon-neutral metallic silicon production from major smelters in North Africa and elsewhere, supplied by desert silica sand and electricity from extensive solar generating systems. The resulting "fuel silicon" is shipped around the world to emissionfree silicon power stations for either immediate electricity generation or stockpiling. The high energy density of silicon and its stable storage make it an ideal material for maintaining national economic functioning through security of base load power supply from a renewable source. This contrasts with the present situation of fossil fuel usage with its associated global warming and geopolitical supply uncertainties. Critical technological requirements for the silicon economy are carbon-neutral silicon production and the development of efficient silicon-fired power stations capable of high-temperature rapid oxidation of fuel silicon. A call is made for the development of research effort into these specific engineering issues, and also with respect to large-scale economical solar power generation.

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Section: The Technology Of a Sustainable Silicon Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Technology Of a Sustainable Silicon Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Technology Of a Sustainable Silicon Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Silicon Shippingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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