The document discusses the REFLEX research platform which aims to develop solutions for recycling carbon in renewable energy systems. The challenges of meeting the Paris Agreement goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 are outlined. The proposed solution is to build a flexible energy system based on solar and wind power, with energy storage technologies, hydrogen production through electrolysis, and power-to-X technologies that can convert hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide into synthetic fuels and chemicals. The objective of the REFLEX platform is to conduct research on modelling the energy transition, key power-to-X technologies, and related business models. Current and planned research projects involving partners are mentioned, with the goal of building the first power-to-X pilot plant that produces

3. SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS TO
KEY QUESTIONS
NO. WE ARE THE DIFFERENCE-MAKERS.
Are we going
to burn up
everything?
Is humanity condemned to
suffer from the water it has
polluted?
Will waste
be the grave
of our future?
Will we let Europe
degenerate to the
world's back yard?

4. REFLEX
Recycling carbon in a flexible competitive
energy system - #lutreflex
LUT PLATFORM
Professor Jero Ahola & D.Sc. Tero Ahonen

5. REFLEX – Recycling carbon in a
flexible competitive energy system
We solve how to recycle carbon in renewable energy systems. In new
energy system carbon dioxide is reused and renewable energy stored.
The produced energy is emission-free, cost-effective and independent.
This will revolutionize the entire energy field.
The research will focus on the key technologies needed in the future
and on the related business potential.

6. CHALLENGE (1/2)
REFLEX
In Paris COP21 meeting the participating
countries agreed on the target of 1.5 °C
for global average temperature rise by
2100 from pre-industrial level. It requires
net-Zero CO2 emissions from energy
sector by 2050. How to reach this in the
given time window?
POSSIBLE
PICTURE
Country
pledges for
2030

7. CHALLENGE (2/2)
REFLEX
The main contributors to energy sector
GHG emissions are the burning of
coal and gas for electricity and heat,
use of oil for mobility, and industrial
use of fossil fuels.
77%
ENERGY
Land use
change 18%
Agriculture 13%
Transportation 14%
Electricity& heat
25%
Industry 27%
14%
8%

8. SOLUTION (1/2)
REFLEX
Future flexible energy system will be
mainly based on the mass-produced
solar and wind power. The whole energy
use will be directly or indirectly electrified.
Flexibility to the electricity system will be
built with energy storages and demand
response technologies.

9. EXAMPLE
REFLEX
Globally, the majority of new
power generation capacity
additions were already
renewables in 2015, mainly in
wind and solar.
Courtesy of: Breyer, C., Farfan, J., 2016

10. Indirect electrification of the energy
usage will be mainly done through
hydrogen production from renewable
electricity. By combining it with captured
CO2, fuels, chemicals, materials, etc. can
be synthesized with Power-to-X
technologies. NEOCARBONISATION
BRIDGING
SOLUTION (2/2)
REFLEX
Source: Pasi Vainikka, 2016

11. With P2X process hydrocarbons (e.g.
fuels) can be synthesized from
electrically produced hydrogen and
captured CO2 through thermochemical or
biochemical route.
POWER-TO-X
REFLEX
Electrolysis
CO2 reduction
process
Excess
electricity
H2O
O2
CO2
H2
H2O
CxHyOz
Q Q

12. Finnish pulp and paper industry produces
36 Mt/a of CO2, fossil fuel combustion is
responsible of 60 Mt/a. By converting this
bio-CO2 to methane with P2G we would
have ~170 TWh of gas. This equals the
energy content of yearly oil & gas use in
Finland, Estonia and Latvia.
FINLAND & CO2
REFLEX
The carbon footprint of lime kilns. Manning,
R., Tran, H., et al. TAPPI 2010
Presentation of H. Karjula & T. Tynjälä

13. The platform aims to build world-class
competence related to the modelling of
on-going energy transition, key
technologies of P2X and related
business models. Parallel research
projects with different maturity levels and
other partners are also started to support
the objectives.
OBJECTIVE
REFLEX
Breyer, C. et Al., 2015

14. RESEARCH TEAM
WP1: Modelling the energy transition
Prof. Christian Breyer
Study of energy system transition
pathways
WP2: Business and service model
development
Prof. Jukka Hallikas
New business and service models
WP3: Energy storages and demand response
Dr. Jukka Lassila
Analysis of ES and DR systems
WP4: Hydrogen gen. and CO2 capture
Dr. Antti Kosonen
Research of H2 generation and CO2
capture from air
WP5: Chemical synthesis of fuels
Prof. Tuomas Koiranen
Fuels&chemicals production with H2
and CO2
REFLEX

15. Jero Ahola Tero Ahonen Christian Breyer Jukka Hallikas
Jukka Lassila Antti Kosonen
Tuomas Koiranen
KEY PERSONS
REFLEX

16. Neo-Carbon Energy
http://www.neocarbonenergy.fi
@neocarbonenergy
EFEU – Efficient Energy Use, Tekes
FERMATRA – Tackling Mass Transfer
Challenges in Fermentations, Tekes
FLEXe – Flexible Energy Systems, Tekes
MICATOX–Microllistructured Reactors for
Catalytic Oxidation, Academy of Finland
PHOENIX – People for the European Bio-
Energy Mix, EU H2020
SET – Smart Energy Transition, AoF
SOLETAIR – From the Sun and Air, Tekes
PROJECT PORTFOLIO
REFLEX

17. RESEARCH PROGRAM CALLS
We’re interested in joining the following
calls as partners:
LCE-06-2017 New knowledge and
technologies
New renewable energy technologies
LCE-10-2017: Reducing the cost
of PV electricity
LCE-21-2017: Market uptake of renewable
energy technologies
SPIRE-08-2017 Carbon dioxide
utilisation to produce added value
chemicals
Please contact
tuomas.koiranen@lut.fi
FOF-09-2017 Novel design and
predictive maintenance technologies for
increased operating life of production
systems
Interest in soft sensing methods,
please contact tero.ahonen@lut.fi
REFLEX

18. REFLEX
REFLEX in collaboration with VTT
Finland and Neo-Carbon Energy
(www.neocarbonenergy.fi) project will
build the first P2X pilot at LUT. The pilot
will be unique in the world – Fuels from
the solar electricity, water and CO2
captured directly from the air.
SOLETAIR 2016-18

19. SOLETAIR 2016-
REFLEX
220 kWp Solar PV plant at LUT

20. SOLETAIR 2016-
REFLEX
¼ of CO2 air capture unit at VTT Finland
Source: Pasi Vainikka, 2016

21. SOLETAIR 2016-
REFLEX
5 kW PEM water electrolyzer & u-CHP
system at LUT.