Project description
Mega-scale production of syngas from water and CO2
Power-to-X technologies create carbon-neutral and renewable synthetic fuels by capturing CO2. They are one of the most promising ways to massively store energy produced intermittently by renewables and accelerate our transition to more sustainable forms of energy. Among these technologies are solid oxide electrolyser cells (SOECs). SOECs have advanced significantly over the years, and they are poised for a breakthrough. The EU-funded MegaSyn project could provide it as it plans to enable the world’s first demonstration of mega-watt scale syngas production by co-electrolysis of water and CO2 in an industrial environment. Success could pave the way for the sustainable decarbonisation of key contributors to emissions, including the iron and steel industry, the chemicals industry and commercial transport.
Objective
In order to combat the climate changes and to reach the European goals for reduction of greenhouse emissions, fossil fuels must be replaced with renewables. MegaSyn will contribute by upscaling high-temperature co-electrolysis to mega-watt scale to produce green syngas (CO + H2) out of renewable electricity, waste CO2 and H2O. This process is called Power-to-X; it is the most important approach to decarbonise hard-to-electrify sectors such as the iron and steel industry, the chemical industry as well as heavy and long-distance transport, as syngas can be used as precursor for the manufacture of e-fuels and other chemicals. By using the co-electrolyser technology, the highest overall process efficiencies can be achieved.
MegaSyn will demonstrate that syngas can be produced via the solid oxide electrolyser cell technology (SOEC) in quantities relevant for industrial applications, while showing the way to competitive electrolyser costs and durability. It will be the world’s first demonstration of syngas production by co-electrolysis on the mega-watt scale in an industrial environment at the Schwechat Refinery in Austria. The project will lift the technology from TRL 5 to TRL 7, thus taking an important step towards commercialisation.
The consortium is carefully selected to cover all the necessary competences: DTU and TU Graz, respectively, will improve knowledge on degradation of cells and stacks and purification needs of feed streams, while Sunfire will design & build the co-electrolyser; OMV will install it at their Schwechat Refinery and Paul Wurth will perform the engineering of overall system integration.
After installation, the MegaSyn system will run for 2 years to demonstrate the production of >900 kg syngas based on renewable energy. Integrating the co-electrolyser based MegaSyn system at a refinery proves its value not only for the production of e-crude but also as a mega-watt scale system that can be integrated in e.g. the chemical industry.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.3. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.3.8.2. - Increase the energy efficiency of production of hydrogen mainly from water electrolysis and renewable sources while reducing operating and capital costs, so that the combined system of the hydrogen production and the conversion using the fuel cell system can compete with the alternatives for electricity production available on the market
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Denmark