SPETRA: Materials for a Sun-Powered Energy Transition

It is internationally recognized that a rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies is critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring a habitable planet. The European Union has pledged to tackle climate change and become the world’s first carbon-neutral continent by 2050. It is also widely accepted that the increased use of solar energy is the most effective option. In particular, in Luxembourg, the National Energy and Climate Plan states that photovoltaics must play a central role in the energy production of Luxembourg, and that renewable “green hydrogen” isurgently needed as a fuel in sectors (e.g., heavy transportation) where electrification is not viable. It is also widely accepted that our ability to tackle the climate challenge will heavily rely on the discovery or optimization of materials that enable an efficient sunlight-to-energy conversion and production of green hydrogen. Indeed, ultimately, it all relies on basic physical and chemical processes by which sunlight is captured by suitable materials that allow us to either transform it into electricity directly or use it to power other clean processes, such as the production of green hydrogen from water. SPETRA will run eight cutting-edge research projects aiming exactly at that: the discovery and optimization of materials and physical/chemical processes that allow us to make the most of solar energy, thus enabling a sun-powered energy transition. To do this, we have assembled a team of experts from the University of Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, who possess the complementary equipment and skills needed to tackle this challenge. We will explore the most advanced photovoltaic materials for a direct sun-to-electricity conversion (four projects), as well as alternative strategies that may allow us to create even more efficient solar panels by also making use of the heat generated by sunlight (2 projects). Additionally, we will study approaches to obtain hydrogen from water via chemical reactions (and novel catalytic materials) that we will optimize so sunlight boosts their efficiency (2 projects). Our ambitious program is designed to deliver considerable progress along all-important directions that are currently the focus of international research teams, with the potential of serendipitous discoveries that might lead to disruptive technologies. As importantly, our project will set the basis for future collaborative activities in Luxembourg in the expanding sector of renewable energies, reaching out to potential interested industries. Last but not least, SPETRA will deliver eight highly qualified professionals with a wide-scope view of the renewable-energy sector, able to interact with the relevant scientific, industrial and economic actors thanks to the broad multidisciplinary training they will receive. We will implement specific actions so that our best graduates meet the relevant actors in Luxembourg and may develop their professional careers in the country, contributing a much needed expertise and added value to our public and private sectors (research, development, administration, policy concerning renewable energies). Based on these facts and prospects, the SPETRA project will develop specific research along three axes. We will consider direct sunlight-to-electricity (photovoltaic) energy conversion based on sunlight (photovoltaics) and on sun-heat (using the so-called pyroelectric effect), as well as sunlight-to-hydrogen conversion (via efficient catalyst).