Objective Objectives This is a feasibility study of the coupling of a biomass gasification process, converting the energy of biomass directly to hydrogen, with fuel cells for electricity and heat generation. Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells (PAFC) are considered, in small modular units of a few MWe capacity as they represent an industrial reality, readily available in appropriate commercial size for field operation. The proposed coupling of biomass gasification and fuel cell is characterized by high energy conversion efficiency and very low environmental impact: this provides for easy integration into small-to-medium size agricultural concerns. Electricity could be either sold or consumed internally; heat would be used for heating or other internal processes. The activities are directed towards the study of such systems, both technically and in terms of the technical and economic constraints on siting in the rural context. Technical Approach The research study will start from an exchange of information concerning the characteristics and requirements of the various sub-processes (fluidized bed and entrained bed gasification, phosphoric acid fuel cell electricity generation), through laboratory investigations in well-defined key areas (biomass pretreatment, catalytic conversion, and cleaning of the gasification product), to conceptual design of the integrated systems and estimation of system investment costs. Biotec is investigating the most important aspects related to general plant siting and to the biomass pretreatments which are needed to transform the harvested crops into suitable feedstock for gasification plant. University College London and Noell Energy are performing the process design of the fluidised bed system and the entrained flow gasification process respectively. The Universities of L'Aquila and Strasbourg are operating on the catalytic aspects of the system (residual tar, methane and CO conversion, catalytic combustion of fuel cell anode exhaust to provide heat for the fluidized bed) both at a conceptual level and with laboratory activities. Expected Achievements and Exploitation The cost of energy generated from biomass is generally considered too high with the present technology, mainly due to the investment cost. The application of a PAFC hydrogen module to power generation from biomass is focused on expanding the market potential, thereby drastically reducing unit costs: low environmental impact and easy operation would rapidly make the present system very attractive for small agricultural industries, thus opening the market to the relatively large volumes necessary for the reduction of production costs. All the partners see the programme as a means of implementing EC Common Agricultural Policy with regard to the rational exploitation of non-food agricultural applications and clean energy production. Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power generationnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compoundsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cellsagricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomassengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsenergy conversion Programme(s) FP4-NNE-JOULE C - Specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration in the field of non-nuclear energy, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0305 - Energy from biomass and waste Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI - L'AQUILA EU contribution No data Address Monteluco di Roio 67040 L'AQUILA Italy See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Agricoltura Biotecnologie Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Stazzone 14 48100 RAVENNA See on map Total cost No data CLC Srl Italy EU contribution No data Address Piazza Carignano 2 16128 Genova See on map Total cost No data Noell Energie- und EntsorgungstechnikGmbH Germany EU contribution No data Address 34,Halsbrücker Strasse 09599 Freiberg See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Torrington Place WC1E 7JE LONDON See on map Total cost No data Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg 1 France EU contribution No data Address 1,Rue Blaise Pascal 1 67008 Strasbourg See on map Total cost No data