Development of Linear Mirror Solar Concentrator for Renewable Thermal Applications: Biomass Processing for Gasification and Greenhouse Heating

It is self-evident that solar energy should be used to generate heat at high temperatures (≥100°C) to help combat global warming. Over the past decades, parabolic mirrors and heliostat fields have been employed for this purpose, but they have not achieved the expected success. Based on fundamental physics principles, a new and highly efficient yet simpler technology has been proposed: the Linear Mirror. At the open-air “Laboratory for New Energies” at the University of Udine’s agrarian research farm, a Linear Mirror is being integrated with a biomass processing system. A key innovation of this setup is a solar-air heat exchanger, capable of heating air to temperatures exceeding 200°C. Combined with a dryer, the system can dry or even roast "waste" biomass, preventing its natural decomposition. The resulting product, known as “solar carbon,” can either be stored for long periods as a simple and effective method of carbon sequestration or used as a carbon-neutral fuel. Additionally, the system's versatility allows for other applications, such as heating a greenhouse.