Marco Colombi
PhD thesis title: Concentrated Solar Thermal Systems for Process Heat Generation
Academic Tutor: Matteo Carmelo Romano
Academic Supervisor: Marco Binotti
PhD cycle: 39° (see all student profiles of the same cycle > LINK)
BSc: Energy Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
MSc: Energy Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Thesis abstract
Decarbonizing industrial process heat poses a formidable challenge due to the intricate and heterogeneous nature of industrial processes. My PhD thesis mainly focuses on assessing the potential of concentrated solar thermal (CST) technologies for industrial heat decarbonization through the design and optimization of hybrid heating systems targeting full process decarbonization and considering diverse heat temperature levels (Figure 1). As a secondary objective, my research will focus on a dedicated case study assessing the techno-economic viability of employing CST technologies to drive an innovative solar pyrolysis process, currently under development within the framework of the European PYSOLO project (Figure 2).
Personal interest in my research theme
I chose to pursue this research theme because I deeply care about climate change and energy independence. I find CST particularly appealing due to Europe’s strong know-how in this field and to its low reliance on rare earth and critical materials, with high recycling rates for its core materials such as metals and glass. Moreover, CST’s modeling challenges and its distinct aesthetic appeal further fuel my interest in the technology.
