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Remote area Energy supply with Multiple Options for integrated hydrogen-based TEchnologies

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - REMOTE (Remote area Energy supply with Multiple Options for integrated hydrogen-based TEchnologies)

Okres sprawozdawczy: 2020-07-01 do 2021-12-31

To meet post-2020 EU targets , a deep penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) like solar and wind is required. Still, the issue of intermittency has to be solved and one significant option is developing bulk energy storage solutions for electricity that are cost-effective, energy dense, reliable.
In particular, in the case of isolated micro-grid or off-grid remote areas, the business case of energy storage is even more interesting and important, as the network is essentially non-existent or there is the interest of managing the local network in an independent way.
The REMOTE EU Horizon2020 5.5 years funded project, developed under the coordination of Politecnico di Torino together with 10 European partners, has the aim to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of two H2-based energy storage solutions (one integrated P2P system and one non-integrated P2G+G2P system). Three DEMO sites supplied by renewable electricity have been installed in either isolated micro-grids or off-grid remote areas of Spain (Gran Canaria), Greece (Agkistro), Norway (Rye).
The overall objectives of the project are:
• VALIDATE the four real demonstration units, in order to enable suppliers, end-users and general stakeholders to gain experience throughout the value chain of energy storage.
• DEMONSTRATE, through the 4 DEMOs, the added value of the FC-based H2 energy storage solutions with respect to alternative technologies in terms of economics, technical and environmental benefits.
• DIRECT ENGAGEMENT OF END-USERS: each DEMO site foresees the direct participation of the end-user to the project.
• CREATION OF NEW KNOW-HOW for next-generation fully integrated P2P chains based on fuel cells and H2 technologies adapted to market and society's needs, with scientific advances in the management of off-grid and isolated micro-grids.
Work Package 1: Management and Coordination
A First Amendment to the GA has been finalized on April, 2018, and it took effect on January 1st, 2018. During the first period of the project some implementation requests have been asked by some of the Partners: therefore, a Second Amendment has been finalized on October, 2019.
Finally, a significant modification of the project has been necessary in Spring 2020: a Third Amendment has been finalized in February 2021.
Work Package 2: Use cases: definition of the technical and business cases of the 4 DEMOs
The activities of definition of the technical and business cases of the 4 DEMOs (developed in WP2) have been done.
Work Package 3: DEMOs based on Power-to-Power integrated systems in the South EU environment
In the Second Reporting Period, the scheduled milestones and deliverables related to the “Detailed Engineering of the DEMOs 1, 2 and 3 in South Europe” have been completed. Then, the “Construction, Installation and Commissioning of the DEMOs 1, 2, 3 in South Europe” have been affected by some events. In December 2019 (M24), ENGIE-EPS communicated the decision to reduce its effort in the REMOTE project. As a consequence, EGP left the Consortium. IRIS left the Consortium because the site preparation was too delayed. Therefore, the activities related to DEMO1 and DEMO3 have been stopped and cancelled. In the beginning of Third Reporting Period (July 2020, M31) a new site for DEMO (named DEMO-Spain) has been identified in Gran Canaria. The consortium now has 3 new partners form Spain: INYCOM (technology provider), CAPISA and ITC (local end users). The DEMO has been designed and the installation has started in July 2021 (M43) to be finalized in June 2022 (M54).
In DEMO2, ENGIE-EPS confirmed its commitment to deliver, install, commission and maintain the P2P system up to December 2021. The Commissioning has been anyway delayed, due to the covid-19 emergency raised in early March 2020. The Commissioning hae been inflized at September 2020 (M33).
Work Package 4: DEMO based on not integrated Power-to-Gas + Gas-to-Power systems in the North EU environment
In the First Reporting Period, the design, installation and operation of the DEMO 4 were in line with the schedule. In the Second Reporting Period, the FC container, the Battery container, the H2 tank and substation have been installed and tested at Rye site, and the WT control system has been upgraded. The electrolyzer ws then installed in April 2021 (3rd Reporting Period). The DEMO has been in full operation from May 2021 to December 2021.
Work Package 5: Analysis
We have organized the activities of Task 5.1 (Efficiency analysis of DEMO plants), of Task T5.3 (Analysis of the effectiveness of the control strategies of the DEMO plants) and of Task T5.7 (Life cycle analysis, already in good advancement).
Work Package 6: Exploitation and innovation potential for the future
WP6 started correctly at M30 (June 2020), with some delays in the deliverable due the delay accumulated in the previous WPs.
Work Package 7: Dissemination, Communication
The communication activity focused on the REMOTE website, the brochures and the infographics. To emphasize the partner’s role in the project, a set of video-interviews has been produced, to fill digital channels with premium contents offering value to partner’s brands. Also, REMOTE has been the Winner of the EUSEW2020, Citizens Award section: June 23rd 2020.
Work Package 8: Ethics requirements
Done.
The main progresses beyond the state of the art achieved so far (M48) and in the near future, are here listed:
1. The analyses of the economic and regulatory framework for all the four demonstrators has been conducted, with a deep analysis of the authorization procedures in different locations and Countries in EU
2. The detailed technical specification of the four demonstrators has been developed, with the definition and refinement of optimized methodologies that can now be used in future applications of these P2P solutions
3. The algorithm devoted to the control strategies of the DEMO plants have been developed, and can be used in future applications of these P2P solutions
4. The different technology platforms have been designed, and the building activity has started
5. The experience of preparation of the local field sites to host the P2P systems have been done, and have generate an high experience that can be replicated in future applications
The potential impacts of the projects are huge:
there are more than 10’000 inhabited islands around the world and an estimated 750 million islanders. Many of these islands, especially those in the range of 1’000 to 100’000 inhabitants each, rely on diesel generators for their electricity production and spend a considerable percentage of their GDP on the import of fuels. Furthermore, many more other isolated situations (mountains, remote areas) exist. Recent estimates suggest a current market potential for upgrading existing diesel-based, off-grid systems with RES in the range of 40-240 GW.
The socio-economic benefits consist of:
1) Energy independency
2) Energy security benefits
3) Energy efficiency
4) Localized air quality improvements
5) Green House Gas (GHG) reduction
6) Creating jobs: a reliable RES + storage cell industry will enable the creation of high skilled, high value jobs, thus decreasing the unemployment statistics.
DEMO 3 location in Ambornetti, North Italy.
DEMO 2 - close view of the plant
DEMO 2 - full view of the plant
DEMO 2 Agkistro (GR) hydro power plant.
DEMO 4 - full plant with wind turbine
DEMO1 location, Ginostra Island, South of Italy.
DEMO 4 - PV plant
DEMO 4 location in Froan Island with wind turbines.
DEMO1 PV field available in Ginostra (IT).
DEMO 4 - hydrogen storage tank
DEMO 3 location in Ambornetti, North Italy.
DEMO 4 - full plant with wind turbine