Page 60 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2018 publication
P. 60
60 Winter 2018 European Energy Innovation
COMMUNICATION
Efficient long-term storage of
renewable energy as synthetic
natural gas
ABy Anke Hagen, DTU Energy, project coordinator
s electricity production However, SOEC technology is still too testing of improved SOECs. Another
from renewable sources expensive – the lifetime and cost important activity of the ECo project
such as solar and wind have to be improved. The overall was to demonstrate the claimed
increases, the need goal of the ECo project is to prolong environmental benefits for specific
applications using a life-cycle analysis.
for efficient energy storage and lifetime of SOECs and to progress
Those are mainly governed by the
transportation concepts that can the technology. A comprehensive nature of the electricity input into the
SOEC. Indeed, with a large share of
bridge the gap between production study of co-electrolysis under electricity from renewable sources,
environmental parameters, for
and consumption patterns become realistic operating conditions, such example the reduction of the global
warming potential, are positively
increasingly pressing. as dynamic electricity input and affected by the integration of SOEC
into existing industrial processes. This
high pressure operation, was carried was shown for such diverse examples
as (i) use of CO2 flue gas and heat
The FCH-JU funded project ECo is out. Based on the results, improved from cement production to reduce
fossil carbon input, (ii) use of process
currently developing and validating SOECs were developed through heat and excess CO2 from biomass
gasification for additional SNG
one such highly efficient technology, electrode optimization aided by production, and (iii) boost of methane
yield by converting CO2 to methane
Electrolysis through Solid oxide advanced electro-chemical and during biogas production.
cells (SOEC). This electrolysis microstructural methodology. These
technology has the ability to split improvements allow for decreasing
water and CO2 using electricity the operating temperature of the
with exceptionally high efficiencies SOEC by 50-100˚C while keeping
(approaching 100%) in a process the same performance. The lower
called co-electrolysis. The resulting operation temperature means lower
gas mixture can then be converted degradation and increased lifetime,
into synthetic natural gas (SNG) or as well as cheaper balance-of-plant
other compounds through standard components making the technology
catalytic processes. more economically viable.
SNG is an attractive large-scale The above activities were “This project has received funding
storage medium. An extensive natural complemented by a design study of from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen
gas distribution network and spacious an SOEC plant. Using this platform 2 Joint Undertaking under grant
storage tanks already exist in Europe, it was possible to identify a range agreement No. 699892. This Joint
which can accommodate as much of optimum operating parameters Undertaking receives support from
as 50% of the present electricity maximising overall efficiency and the European Union’s Horizon 2020
production from renewable sources the yield of the SNG production. research and innovation program
in the form of SNG without costly These parameters can then serve and Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen
investments in new infrastructure. as a guide for the development and Europe Research.” l
For further information please contact:
Project Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Dr. Anke Hagen
Technical University of Denmark
Department of Energy Conversion and Storage
Frederiksborgvej 399,
DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Phone: +45 46775884
Email: anke@dtu.dk
www.eco-soec-project.
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
