• Acronym:
    BALANCE
  • Call Id:
    H2020-LCE-2016-ERA
  • Project No:
    731224
  • Coordinator:
    VTT, Finlandia
  • Duration:
    01.12.2016 - 30.11.2019

Partners

  1. VTT, Finlandia (Koordynator)
  2. CEA, Francja
  3. DTU, Dania
  4. ENEA, Włochy
  5. University of Birmingham, Wielka Brytania
  6. TU Delft, Holandia
  7. EPFL, Francja
  8. Instytut Energetyki, Polska

Description

The partners of the BALANCE project aim at:

Producing new generation of solid oxide cells with clear progress in terms of performance and durability with respect to state-of-the-art by optimisation and integration of alternative fuel electrode materials and nanostructured oxygen electrodes. The aim is to allow operation at lower temperature (700°C) with an area specific resistance of 0.2 ohm cm2 in electrolysis mode. Stability target are of [lt] 0.5 % /1000 h at 700°C in Solid Oxide Electrolyser (SOE) mode with a current density of 1.25 A/cm2.

Optimising existing Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) or SOE stack designs for reversible operation with the support of simulation tools. Stacks will be manufactured, tested and implementing in a demonstration system. In order to reduce cost, low cost ferritic stainless steels will be considered for interconnects and their durability will be assessed and potentially enhanced with protective coatings. The stack target is to have not less than 20% of loss of performance between cell and stack and a degradation rate of less than 2%/ 1,000 h in SOE mode.

Validating the ReSOC concept and performance target at system level with a system prototype. Its targets are 50 % efficiency in SOFC mode and 90 % in electrolysis mode at multi-kW scale. In addition, the reversibility and flexible operation will be demonstrated in a 2500 h test.

The suitability of ReSOC technology in different industrial environment will be investigated. System modelling, exergy analysis and techno-economic analysis will be used for different ReSOC plant configurations producing hydrogen or fuel via chemical conversion processes and providing grid stabilisation services. The system will encompass grid connection, ReSOC unit, possible hydrogen or syngas chemical conversion step and gas or fuel storage. The exergy analysis will provide the identification of the process step with major losses, optimise the process flow chart and provide specification for Balance-of-Plant components. Life cycle analysis will be conducted for deeper understanding of the process cost and environmental impact.