Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Djewels (Delfzijl Joint Development of green Water Electrolysis at Large Scale)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2020-01-01 al 2021-06-30
Djewels demonstrate the operational readiness of 20 MW electrolyser for the production of green fuels (green methanol) in real-life industrial and commercial conditions. It will bring the technology from TRL 7 to TRL 8 and lay the foundation for the next scale-up step, towards 100 MW on the same site.
Djewels will enable the development of next generation of pressurised alkaline electrolyser, by developing more cost efficient, better performing, high current density electrodes, preparing the serial manufacturing of the stack and scale-up of the balance of plant components.
Leveraging economies of scale, the flexible and optimized operation of the electrolyser and applying advanced electricity procurement and arbitrage strategies will ensure a low cost of green hydrogen for the end-user during the 3 years of operation. This project will demonstrate the conditions for a profitable business cases for green hydrogen production as an input for renewable methanol production towards large-scale deployment in Europe before 2030.
Djewels will be located in Delfzijl industrial park, where Nobian already produces hydrogen through a chlor-alkali process and where the (bio)methanol producer, BioMCN, is also located. Delfzijl industrial park has a direct connection to the electricity transmission grid, and low distribution network charges within. Other hydrogen industry clients in Delfzijl create further conditions for scaling up green hydrogen elektrolysers. Beyond Delfzijl, the park is connected via a dense gas networks to other large-scale chemical and (petro)chemical hydrogen clients in the Netherlands and Germany. These could allow Djewels to be a stepping stone towards the creation of a new hydrogen valley, in line with the ambitions of the FCH2-JU and the regional roadmap, within the industrial cluster of Delfzijl, the Northern Netherland and beyond.
Djewels will enable the development of next generation of pressurised alkaline electrolyser, by developing more cost efficient, better performing, high current density electrodes, preparing the serial manufacturing of the stack and scale-up of the balance of plant components.
Leveraging economies of scale, the flexible and optimized operation of the electrolyser and applying advanced electricity procurement and arbitrage strategies will ensure a low cost of green hydrogen for the end-user during the 3 years of operation. This project will demonstrate the conditions for a profitable business cases for green hydrogen production as an input for renewable methanol production towards large-scale deployment in Europe before 2030.
Djewels will be located in Delfzijl industrial park, where Nobian already produces hydrogen through a chlor-alkali process and where the (bio)methanol producer, BioMCN, is also located. Delfzijl industrial park has a direct connection to the electricity transmission grid, and low distribution network charges within. Other hydrogen industry clients in Delfzijl create further conditions for scaling up green hydrogen elektrolysers. Beyond Delfzijl, the park is connected via a dense gas networks to other large-scale chemical and (petro)chemical hydrogen clients in the Netherlands and Germany. These could allow Djewels to be a stepping stone towards the creation of a new hydrogen valley, in line with the ambitions of the FCH2-JU and the regional roadmap, within the industrial cluster of Delfzijl, the Northern Netherland and beyond.
The project has been set-up and launched. Meeting structures and communication activities had to be adopted just after the start due to COVID-19 restrictions. Despite this complexity, the activities on the further development and improvement on the state-of-the-art pressurized, high current density stacks have been performed in San Miniato (test bench) and Les Renardieres (pilot installation). The lessons learned from these tests have been incorporated in design of the Djewels plant.
FEL 3 engineering on the Djewels plant is completed. The plant’s design enables the state-of-the-art technology to operate in the industrial conditions required. Significant effort and resources have been committed to design the overall plant and verify the safety of this design. During the design thorough reviews have been performed on safety, reliability, operability and maintainability aspects. Also, the integration of the (flexible) hydrogen supply to BioMCN’s methanol reactor has been designed and reviewed.
Good progress has been made on the establishment of the new value chain: power to e-methanol. Items such as the technical product specification; ability to accommodate flexible hydrogen supply, hydrogen price formula, guarantees and other conditions that are custom in an industrial setting.
However, the current uncertainty on REDII requirements for renewable methanol mean the expected revenues from renewable methanol from green hydrogen are uncertain. This introduces significant uncertainty in the business case for the whole value chain.
It is expected that in the course of 2021, with the implementation of REDII in national legislation, the regulatory uncertainty is lifted. This will enable the market to establish a view on premium price for renewable methanol that in turn will enable a premium for the feedstock green hydrogen.
FEL 3 engineering on the Djewels plant is completed. The plant’s design enables the state-of-the-art technology to operate in the industrial conditions required. Significant effort and resources have been committed to design the overall plant and verify the safety of this design. During the design thorough reviews have been performed on safety, reliability, operability and maintainability aspects. Also, the integration of the (flexible) hydrogen supply to BioMCN’s methanol reactor has been designed and reviewed.
Good progress has been made on the establishment of the new value chain: power to e-methanol. Items such as the technical product specification; ability to accommodate flexible hydrogen supply, hydrogen price formula, guarantees and other conditions that are custom in an industrial setting.
However, the current uncertainty on REDII requirements for renewable methanol mean the expected revenues from renewable methanol from green hydrogen are uncertain. This introduces significant uncertainty in the business case for the whole value chain.
It is expected that in the course of 2021, with the implementation of REDII in national legislation, the regulatory uncertainty is lifted. This will enable the market to establish a view on premium price for renewable methanol that in turn will enable a premium for the feedstock green hydrogen.
Testing of the pressurized, high current density alkaline stack in the pilot facility has confirmed safety aspects of the 1 MW stack. Areas are identified for optimization. The associated engineering and manufacturing improvements are identified to improve efficiency and endurance, both critical enable green hydrogen in industrial applications.
A 4 MW technology, module has been designed that meets the various requirements of industrial equipment on topics such as safety, reliability, operability and maintainability.
The combination of multiple 4 MW modules in a larger plant is key to enable the 20 MW electrolyser unit for Djewels, but also sets the foundation for scale up by adding additional modules.
The market for e-methanol is under development. In Djewels, we are preparing to showcase critical elements such as certification and classification (RNFBO) under REDII. However, the regulatory framework still needs to stabilize. Establishing e-methanol will require further efforts following a new business development approach towards new potential customers / prospects and key partners as well as explaining this renewable value chain to stakeholders.
A 4 MW technology, module has been designed that meets the various requirements of industrial equipment on topics such as safety, reliability, operability and maintainability.
The combination of multiple 4 MW modules in a larger plant is key to enable the 20 MW electrolyser unit for Djewels, but also sets the foundation for scale up by adding additional modules.
The market for e-methanol is under development. In Djewels, we are preparing to showcase critical elements such as certification and classification (RNFBO) under REDII. However, the regulatory framework still needs to stabilize. Establishing e-methanol will require further efforts following a new business development approach towards new potential customers / prospects and key partners as well as explaining this renewable value chain to stakeholders.