Page 24 - European Energy Innovation - summer 2018 publication
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24 Summer 2018 European Energy Innovation
COMMUNICATION
The first industrial-size biogas-fed CHP system based on
fuel cells (high efficiency and zero emissions)
The DEMOSOFC project, funded by The DEMOSOFC plant is able to that all potential pollutants (NOx,
FCH-JU, has put into operation the generate, from a by-product of the SOx, particulates, VOC, etc) are below
largest industrial size biogas-fed wastewater purification line, CHP detection limits of the traditional
fuel cell plant in Europe. The plant energy for the plant. The installed 174 instrumentation (e.g. < 20 mg/m3 for
is a combined heat and power energy kWe system (3 modules, 58 kWe each) NOx and < 8 mg/m3 for SO2).
system, working by recovering the will be able to cover around 25-30%
biogas obtained from the digestion of of the plant electrical load and Key advantages of the DEMOSOFC
the sewage sludge in a wastewater around 50% of the thermal load on concept, compared to traditional
treatment plant located near Torino (IT). a yearly basis. internal combustion engines and
micro-turbines, are the very high
Thanks to the anaerobic digestion, The first of the three SOFC modules electrical efficiency (50-55%
sludge is turned into a useful fuel started its operation in the Collegno compared to 35-40% for traditional
– biogas – made of methane and site (Torino, IT) on October 30, 2017 engines), emissions and modularity:
carbon dioxide. This 100% renewable and has now reached more than the SOFC technology shows in fact
fuel is fed to an innovative Solid 2000 hours of operation. Results stable performance despite the plant
Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), able to confirmed the high efficiency of the size (from kW to hundreds of kW to,
produce high efficiency electrical SOFC module (always higher than in perspective, MW-size).
power, heat, and zero emissions 50%, with peaks at 55-56%) and the
to the atmosphere (because the zero emissions to atmosphere. A The replication potential of this
electrochemical process, which dedicated onsite emissions analysis installation is significant. The
occurs inside the SOFC, is indeed – carried out by the Finnish partner DEMOSOFC project estimated
generating no combustion products). VTT in December 2017 – showed that, among the 23’423 wastewater
treatment plants in Europe, more
than 50% are small-medium size
plants, where the installation of
a traditional piston engine is less
convenient and efficient. The
potential SOFC power installation
in the wastewater treatment sector
in Europe ranges from 930 to 2550
MWe. Furthermore, the DEMOSOF
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