At SolarPACES 2025, the HySelect project was prominently featured in multiple sessions and a dedicated EU side-event, showcasing Europe’s leadership in solar-thermochemical hydrogen production. Partners from DLR and ENEA presented their latest advances in hybrid sulphur (HyS) cycles, solar reactor technologies, and large-scale demonstration systems.
Investigation into the performance of the Hybrid Sulphur (Hy-S) HySelect Demo Plant for green hydrogen production
Presenter: Francesco Rovense (ENEA)
Session: Solar Fuels & Chemical Commodities I
Date: 24 September 2025, 12:25 – 12:45 CEST
Location: SALA 4 – La Fabriquia
Francesco Rovense from ENEA presented new results from the HySelect demonstration plant, where the Hybrid Sulphur (HyS) process is being validated for green hydrogen production using solar heat. The talk covered plant performance metrics, operation of the sulphuric acid decomposition reactor, and the integration of SO₂ depolarised electrolysis.
These results mark an important milestone towards scaling HySelect technologies for industrial hydrogen generation.
Efficient water splitting via a solar hybrid thermochemical cycle with sulphur dioxide depolarised electrolysis
Presenter: Kai Risthaus (DLR)
Session: Solar Fuels & Chemical Commodities I
Date: 24 September 2025, 11:25 – 11:45 CEST
Location: SALA 1 – Las Salinas de Cabo de Gata
Kai Risthaus from DLR presented the HySelect team’s latest developments in SO₂ depolarised electrolysis (SDE), the low-temperature step of the hybrid sulphur cycle. The talk highlighted advances in cell design, efficiency improvements, and the integration of solar thermal heat from high-temperature particle receivers. This work supports HySelect’s vision of coupling solar-driven thermal and electrochemical systems for cost-effective hydrogen production.
HySelect project presentation at the CST4ALL side-event
Presenter: Kai Risthaus (DLR)
Event: EU-funded CST Projects & Research Agenda, CST4ALL Side Event
Date: 25 September 2025, 09:55 – 10:10 CEST
Location: Room 7 – Conference Venue
During the CST4ALL side event, Kai Risthaus further introduced the HySelect general project concept in the context of the European Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) research roadmap.
The presentation outlined HySelect’s objectives, partners, technology pillars, and its contribution to the EU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for solar fuels and hydrogen.
HySelect was presented alongside leading European CST initiatives, demonstrating strong alignment with the EU’s long-term decarbonisation goals.
Update on the commissioning of the HEHTRES CentRec® receiver and the solar high-temperature particle test facility
Presenter: Markus Reichart (DLR)
Session: Solar Fuels & Chemical Commodities I
Date: 24 September 2025, 11:45 – 12:05 CEST
Location: SALA 1 – Las Salinas de Cabo de Gata
Markus Reichart from DLR presented the commissioning progress of the HEHTRES CentRec® centrifugal particle receiver and the solar high-temperature particle test facility, both critical to HySelect’s technology chain.
These facilities provide the infrastructure for testing high-temperature particle materials and receiver-to-reactor integration, enabling the next steps in the HySelect pilot phase.