SusTainable mEtaL fueLs for future trAnspoRtation – STELLAR

The STELLAR (SusTainable mEtaL fueLs for future trAnspoRtation) project intends to demonstrate the viability of new energetic carriers. Based on both energy and transportation sector requirements – such as autonomy related to weight or volume, easy refill, cost, distribution and storage – metal powders appear convenient as renewable alternative fuels. Indeed, they can burn to release heat without any carbon chemistry, and can be regenerated by thermochemical processes powered by renewable sources. This has the potential to create a major breakthrough in addressing renewable energy storage issues, climate change, and transport fuel costs, in accordance with mid-to long-term French government expectations.
Promising recent studies performed by the project stakeholders mitigate the inherent risks that could be encountered by this breakthrough proposal in terms of targets and barriers. This works propose an distinctive approach to solve on the long term the energy storage and the climate change mitigation issues. This enhances STELLAR’s investigations to overpass a Technology Readiness Level 3.
The project will aim to endorse several significant breakthroughs: capability to control the combustion of the particles so that the heat generated is practicable for a dedicated thermodynamic converter; designing of trapping on board 100% of the oxidized particles; and improving the processes to produce and regenerate particles using concentrated solar energy. Appropriate converters will be studied in order to match the specificities of the heat source with different transport applications. Furthermore, a life cycle assessment of the technology will position the concept in terms of Green House Gas emission, energy request and expected cost.
The outcome of this multidisciplinary project will provide valuable answers to the major problem of energy storage and will serve as a basis for industrial developments in several key sectors (energy, automotive, aeronautics, metallurgy).