Patent ID: 8272216

Claim:
A method for converting solar thermal energy obtained in a first region into motive power energy used in a second region, the second region having a solar-radiation amount smaller than that of the first region, the method comprising: (1) synthesizing ammonia from air and water by using, as an energy source, only the solar thermal energy acquired in the first region; (2) transferring the ammonia from the first region to the second region; and (3) burning the ammonia in the second region such that nitrogen and water are produced, thereby obtaining motive power energy; wherein the step of synthesizing the ammonia further includes: performing a reaction to produce hydrogen from water by using a part of the acquired solar thermal energy; and performing a reaction to a synthesize ammonia from nitrogen and the hydrogen obtained in the step (1), by using another part of the acquired solar thermal energy, wherein the nitrogen is obtained by burning the hydrogen in the step (1) to consume oxygen in the air; the reaction to produce hydrogen from water is performed by using the acquired solar thermal energy directly as a heat source; and the obtained nitrogen gas is subjected to a purification treatment to reduce a concentration of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide contained in the nitrogen gas to 10 ppm or less; and in the transfer step, the ammonia is used as a fuel for an internal combustion engine to obtain at least part of electric power and/or motive power necessary for performing the transfer.