Thermodynamics of solar methanothermal reduction of Sm2O3 was investigated.
Methanothermal reduction TH decreases with the increase in the CH4/Sm2O3 ratio.
Sm and syngas production increases with the increase in the CH4/Sm2O3 ratio.
Additional syngas was produced via thermochemical splitting of H2O/CO2 using Sm.
ηexergy = 37.62% and ηexergy-closed = 56.92% was achieved by applying 50% HR.