A process for converting carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon fuels using solar energy, the process comprising the steps of: receiving direct sunlight with a plurality of heliostats and reflecting the direct sunlight from the heliostats as reflected sunlight onto a tower receiver, wherein the reflected sunlight heats a heat transfer fluid in the tower receiver; converting a water stream to a generated steam stream in a steam generator, wherein the heat transfer fluid provides heat to the steam generator; feeding the generated steam stream to a steam turbine, wherein the steam turbine converts thermal energy in the generated steam stream to mechanical energy to drive an electric generator to generate electricity; heating a fuel feed stream by transferring thermal energy from the heat transfer fluid to create a heated fuel feed stream, such that the heated fuel feed stream reaches a temperature of between 650°C and 800°C; feeding the heated fuel feed stream to a syngas production cell, wherein the heated fuel feed stream comprises carbon dioxide and water, wherein the carbon dioxide is captured from a flue gas stream; converting the carbon dioxide and water in the heated fuel feed stream to carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the syngas production cell to produce a syngas stream, wherein the syngas production cell comprises a solid oxide electrolyte; feeding the syngas stream to a catalytic reactor, wherein the catalytic reactor operates in the presence of a catalyst; and converting the syngas stream to a hydrocarbon fuel stream in the catalytic reactor, wherein the syngas production cell comprises: (a) a solid oxide electrolyzer cell, wherein the solid oxide electrolyzer cell comprises a porous cathode, the solid oxide electrolyte, and a porous anode; or (b) a solid oxide fuel cell, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell comprises a porous anode, the solid oxide electrolyte, and a porous cathode. receiving direct sunlight with a plurality of heliostats and reflecting the direct sunlight from the heliostats as reflected sunlight onto a tower receiver, wherein the reflected sunlight heats a heat transfer fluid in the tower receiver; converting a water stream to a generated steam stream in a steam generator, wherein the heat transfer fluid provides heat to the steam generator; feeding the generated steam stream to a steam turbine, wherein the steam turbine converts thermal energy in the generated steam stream to mechanical energy to drive an electric generator to generate electricity; heating a fuel feed stream by transferring thermal energy from the heat transfer fluid to create a heated fuel feed stream, such that the heated fuel feed stream reaches a temperature of between 650°C and 800°C; feeding the heated fuel feed stream to a syngas production cell, wherein the heated fuel feed stream comprises carbon dioxide and water, wherein the carbon dioxide is captured from a flue gas stream; converting the carbon dioxide and water in the heated fuel feed stream to carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the syngas production cell to produce a syngas stream, wherein the syngas production cell comprises a solid oxide electrolyte; feeding the syngas stream to a catalytic reactor, wherein the catalytic reactor operates in the presence of a catalyst; and converting the syngas stream to a hydrocarbon fuel stream in the catalytic reactor, wherein the syngas production cell comprises: (a) a solid oxide electrolyzer cell, wherein the solid oxide electrolyzer cell comprises a porous cathode, the solid oxide electrolyte, and a porous anode; or (b) a solid oxide fuel cell, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell comprises a porous anode, the solid oxide electrolyte, and a porous cathode. (a) a solid oxide electrolyzer cell, wherein the solid oxide electrolyzer cell comprises a porous cathode, the solid oxide electrolyte, and a porous anode; or (b) a solid oxide fuel cell, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell comprises a porous anode, the solid oxide electrolyte, and a porous cathode.