Feasability study of an urban fuel cell network with coal gasifier

Informazioni relative al progetto

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: JOE3970071

Progetto chiuso

Data di avvio 1 Gennaio 1998

Data di completamento 31 Dicembre 1999

Finanziato da

• Specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration in the field of non-nuclear energy, 1994-1998

Costo totale € 0,00

Contributo UE Nessun dato

Coordinato da

Bertin et Cie S.A.
France

Risultati finali

Techno-economic analysis of the urban fuel cell network with coal gasifier: BARAKA

The BARAKA project is aimed at evaluating the technical feasibility and the commercial advantages of connecting a cogeneration power plant using a High Temperature Fuel Cell (SOFC or MCFC) fed with gas issued from coal gasification to urban networks. In order to fulfil the objective, the BARAKA process was established in accordance to the requirements of the electricity and heat networks and exploited in Metz by UEM. The system study and preliminary design were followed by the economic analysis and the techno-economic evaluation. Conclusions: -The technical feasibility has been demonstrated provided that the HTFC performances will be demonstrated for a sufficient operating time. The equipment comprised in the balance of plant (BOP) is all commercially produced and based on mature technologies. -The economic evaluation of the BARAKA process revealed its low competitiveness due the high investment cost: based on the UEM scenario for the operation of the plant along the year, the cost of the electricity produced by the BARAKA process is far higher than the market price. -In order to appraise the interest of the coal gasification for supplying the stack with fuel gas, the alternative HTFC process using Natural Gas as fuel was studied. Although this NG route was evaluated with less accuracy than for BARAKA, it allows the reduction of the investment and electricity production of about 20 %. -The evaluation of the stack cost based on an expected production of 200 MWe in 2005 led to 650 euro/KWe. This is consistent with the acceptance price indicated by HTFC industrial factors: 500 euro/KWe in 2008. -The BOP investment cost is the major cause for the low competitiveness of the BARAKA process and in a lower extend of the NG route. To meet the acceptance price of 500 euro/KWe for 2008, the BOP cost has to be divided by 2 for the NG route and by 3 for the BARAKA process. -The stack, even for the BARAKA capacity, can take profit from any future improvements for material and manufacturing, as it is composed of elementary modules of 1 MWe which correspond to the capacity range of the expected future market (0,5 to 1 MWe). The series effect will, therefore, allow further reduction of the stack cost. -The reduction of the BOP cost for the BARAKA process is likely to be more difficult as there is low chance to take benefit of series production for equipment of such capacity. -For NG route the need for BOP cost reduction is less critical but remains important (BOP cost to be divided by 2). The benefit of series production will be profitable to NG route units of smaller capacities.