Objective
Objectives and problems to be solved: Many remote sites exist and depend on stand-alone power system. A photovoltaic field, an electrolyser, a fuel cell and gas storage systems constitute the system under study. The primary source is the sun (and water), the produced energy is electricity and heat and the system is intended to be a future competitor of hybrid PV / Diesel systems, both from an environmental point of view (low noise and zero emission) as from an operational cost point of view. The main objective of the project is to demonstrate the feasibility of this system, based on the renewable energy. The investigations will allow to determine the optimal size and design of the components, the best adapted fuel and feeding process and the best way to manage the energy streams. The system has to be performing, reliable, easy to handle and safely constructed. The development of simulation tools will help to chose the design and the management, at first, of the pilot systems and in term, of each power system to be built in a remote site. Description of the work: The PVFC-SYS project is composed of the following work activities:· System design, test and construction· System assessment· Operation cost and market analysis· Simulation and tool design· Safety analysis Two stand-alone power systems will be constructed: The first, a test plant, will be built in the south of France. This test bench, a 3 kWp photovoltaic system equipped with a 5 kW fuel cell and a 3 kW electrolyser, will be used to compare different configurations and operating strategies and to assist the development of the simulation tools. Then, the second pilot system of nearly the same size will be installed in an industrial company interested in exploring new environmentally friendly technical solutions. The selection of the industrial site must be understood as a controlled step to evaluate the degree of reliability of such systems and to validate the configuration best adapted to civil remote sites. In parallel of this technical work, important studies have to be made, like the system security assessment, the analysis of the system operational costs and the corresponding market analysis taking into account quickly evolving investment costs of the components. Expected Results and Exploitation Plans: Results should demonstrate the feasibility and the competitiveness of a environmentally friendly power system (no fossil resource and zero emission). Simulation software should become a precious tool to design optimal systems for remote sites. Market analysis is expected to localise economically feasible sites.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS
France