The integration of CST is an elegant solution, substituting the combustion of fossil fuels with focused solar radiation, a fundamental shift in the energy source for one of civilization's most critical manufacturing processes. . CEMEX, S. (“CEMEX”) and Synhelion announced today the successful production of the world's first solar clinker, the key component of cement, a significant step towards developing fully solar-driven cement plants. Clinker is produced by fusing together limestone, clay, and other. . In this project, we are demonstrating a new approach, where ceramic castable cements can be utilized as a cheaper alternative to nickel alloys for both the tanks and piping system. What is castable cement? What is castable cement? Castable cement is like a high temperature concrete. It starts as an. . Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) technology, when paired with high-temperature Thermal Energy Storage (TES), presents a direct and compelling pathway to address the thermal energy portion of this equation. Unlike photovoltaic panels which convert light to electricity, CST uses a field of mirrors. . Engineers from ETH Zurich have created a device that effectively harnesses solar energy to produce temperatures exceeding 1,000°C. This method could address the environmental challenges of fossil fuel-based manufacturing. Steel production. Image used courtesy of Wikimedia Commons In cement. . Cemex and Synhelion report prospective scaling of a high-temperature process to industrially-viable levels, where solar energy supplants fossil fuel combustion. An early 2022. . Synhelion's solar tower technology harnesses energy from a field of solar mirrors and concentrates it onto a receiver. The receiver converts the solar radiation into high-temperature process heat, which is then directed to a thermal chemical reactor. This reactor produces syngas, which is a mixture. .