FRESH aims to contribute to reducing the European Union’s dependence on fossil fuels for power generation, providing a cushion for the intermittent character of renewable electricity generation leading to stable, more predictable prices for renewable electricity, which is crucial for the future development of large-scale renewable power generation, and therefore, the energy transition. The project has achieved this through the development, construction and validation, of an integrated, cost competitive process for conversion of CO2 to potassium formate using an electrocatalytic process powered by renewable electricity. The highly stable potassium formate generated by the reactor will be stored safely for long periods (from short term or seasonal) in tanks. The subsequent conversion of the stored potassium formate to electricity on demand will use a direct fuel cell system.
The project includes development of the individual components (CO2 to formate and formate to electricity), CO2 sourcing and purification and ultimately the construction and validation of an integrated protoype. This will be achieved by the implementation of a series of interconnected work packages. FRESH is structured around five technical work packages and two ‘enabling/value adding’ work packages, supporting dissemination, exploitation and management activities. Development of the CO2 to Potassium Formate reactor in WP2. In WP3, power generation from Potassium Formate will be investigated using direct fuel cell systems. Integration of variable simulated industrial CO2 sources and purification capabilities in WP4.
The tasks regarding these three technologies will be carried out in parallel. Special attention will be given to the tuning of the Potassium Formate stream from the CO2 electrolyzer. Finally, the overall prototype will be designed with the knowledge and output acquired from WP2, WP3 and WP4. This WP involves construction and operation of the prototype plant. WP5 is also dedicated to the validation of the complete system, as well as performing system trials. WP6 involves a variety of analyses to ensure sustainable choices and realistic input parameters in other WPs. A Life Cycle Assessment and Techno-economic analysis will be carried out along with a financial and market study.
The consortium consists of 8 partners of which 3 research institutes (CNR, CERTH and FZJ), 4 industrial partners (COVAL Energy, ENGIE laboelec, HYSYTECH, EEMPOWER) and 1 university (DTU) from 6 EU member states.
