Descrizione del progetto
Un migliore accumulo di energia solare ed eolica
Uno dei principali ostacoli alle fonti di energia alternative, quali l’energia solare e quella eolica, è che per compensare una generazione intermittente richiedono sistemi di accumulo di energia. In sostituzione delle batterie, che hanno capacità limitata e sono realizzate in materiali tossici, immagazzinare energia come H2, un combustibile pulito creato mediante elettrolisi in un elettrolizzatore ad acqua alcalina o da una membrana a scambio protonico, è un’interessante alternativa di ripiego. Il problema è che attualmente si riscontrano difficoltà intrinseche in termini di costi, efficienza e durata operativa. Il progetto 2DTMCH2, finanziato dall’UE, creerà pile di elettrolizzatore ad acqua alcalina multifunzionali a basso costo utilizzando composti di metalli di transizione bidimensionali. Queste saranno in grado di utilizzare acqua di mare, un progresso senza precedenti nei dispositivi di elettrolisi disponibili in commercio, e contribuire a sviluppare un futuro energetico senza emissioni di carbonio.
Obiettivo
The rapid progress in intermittent solar, wind technologies has created an urgent need to develop parallel technologies of storing energy in forms that are suitable for on-site applications as well as long distance transmission. The present method of storing the surplus energy in batteries is not a viable solution in the long run, owing to the limited reserves and toxicity of battery materials. In such a scenario, storing the obtained energy in the form of H2 fuel is a fairly attractive strategy.
Alkaline water electrolyzer (AWE) have been a key technology for large-scale hydrogen production and are capable of generating energy in MW range. Alkaline water electrolyzer (AWE) still requires technological make-over to reach the desired efficiency of about 90 % from the current 70 %. On the other hand, counterpart technology of proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer is highly efficient, but its investment cost and low lifetime limits commercialization. The investment cost of AWE today is around 1000-1200 $/kW, and PEM is 1700-2500 $/kW. In addition, the lifetime of AWE is higher and the annual maintenance costs are lower compared to PEM. Although AWE has an economic advantage over PEM, integrating AWE with an intermittent energy source of solar and wind power requires a major advancement in the design to be used in dynamic operating conditions.
The key objective of this research is to develop a multipurpose low-cost water electrolyzer for H2 production by electrolysis of alkaline-water with special focus on seawater (alkaline) water to store intermittent energy sources (solar and wind) in form of clean fuel. Unfortunately, there are no commercial electrolyzer that run on seawater, owing to the associated research and technical challenges of high activity, OER selectivity, stability, and low cost. The present project aims to develop AWE stacks for H2 production employing efficient, cost-effective two-dimensional transition metal compounds (2D-TMC).
Campo scientifico
- natural scienceschemical sciencescatalysiselectrocatalysis
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysis
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energywind power
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energyhydrogen energy
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinatore
166 28 Praha
Cechia