Sandia National Laboratories recently tested a prototype solar thermal technology that uses concentrated solar energy to heat air to 850 °C, showing its potential to support processes that need very high heat, such as critical mineral processing and other industrial applications.
Integrated Energy Systems Office
July 8, 2026
Estimated Read Time min
Sandia National Laboratories recently tested a prototype solar thermal technology that uses concentrated solar energy to heat air to 850 °C, showing its potential to support processes that need very high heat, such as critical mineral processing and other industrial applications. The ultra-High Operating Temperature Silicon Carbide matrix Solar Thermal Air-Receiver (HOTSSTAR), designed by GE Aerospace Research, also reached surface temperatures near 1,400 °C during testing at Sandia’s National Solar Thermal Test Facility, demonstrating that the receiver's silicon carbide can withstand the extreme heat required for industrial applications.
Supported by IESO, the HOTSSTAR system can expand options for process heat, thermal energy storage, and power production, improving U.S. energy resilience. These results mark an important step toward commercializing lower-cost, high-temperature thermal energy systems for U.S. industry, including systems that use air for thermal energy storage.