High-temperature solar reforming of methane with CO2 is investigated using a directly solar-irradiated absorber subjected to a solar mean flux level above 400 kW m(-2) (the peak flux of about 700 kW m(-2)). The new type of catalytically activated ceramic foam absorber-a Ru/Ni-Mg-O catalyzed SiC-foam absorber-was prepared, and its activity was tested in a laboratory-scale volumetric receiver-reactor with a transparent (quartz) window by using a sun-simulator Compared to conventional Rh/Al2O3 catalyzed SiC-foam absorber, this new catalytic absorber is more cost effective and is found to exhibit a superior reaction performance at the high solar flux or at high temperatures, especially above 950 degrees C. This new absorber will be applied in solar receiver-reactor systems for converting concentrated high solar fluxes to chemical fuels via endothermic natural-gas reforming at high temperatures.