Clean energy and heat from waste using fuel cell systems: first industrial plant in Europe скачать в хорошем качестве

Clean energy and heat from waste using fuel cell systems: first industrial plant in Europe

A solid oxide fuel cell system, first of its kind in Europe, will allow the Italian utility SMAT to generate clean electricity and heat for their plant located in Collegno, near Turin, where the waste water of 180.000 people is treated, producing one million m3 of biogas per year. Thanks to the project DEMOSOFC, supported by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, the first cogenerating fuel cell system in Europe run on biogas has now been launched. It will generate 175 kW of power, or 30% of the electricity needed to operate the Collegno plant, thus reducing plant emissions while at the same time saving the company nearly 200 thousand Euro of electricity bills per year. This achievement is the result of a joint commitment from industry as well as research institutions, such as through the INNOSOFC project, towards the development of a European supply chain of Solid oxide fuel cells. This technology for clean energy conversion is based on ceramic layers operating at around 700°C, that can convert both fossil and renewable fuels into power and heat through an electrochemical reaction at very high efficiency, avoiding combustion processes and the associated pollutant emissions. The inauguration of the biogas-fed fuel cell system at Collegno paves the way for an all-European industry ranging from raw material production to components manufacturing and final commissioning, towards a sustainable and circular economy.