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EU research results

CORDIS

Increasing penetration of renewable power, alternative fuels and grid flexibility by cross-vector electrochemical processes

Fact Sheet

Reporting

Results

Objective

The main goal of the BALANCE proposal is to gather leading research centres in Europe in the domain of Solid Oxide Electrolysis (SOE) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) to collaborate and accelerate the development of European Reversible Solid Oxide Cell (ReSOC) technology. ReSOC is an electrochemical device that converts electrical energy into hydrogen (electrolysis mode) or alternatively fuel gas to electrical energy (fuel cell mode). It is characterised by its very high efficiency compared to competing technologies. ReSOC enables to store renewable electricity when it is produced in excess or to convert it into a CO2-free transport fuel. Therefore, it is considered as a key technology to allow the broad penetration of renewable electricity into the European energy system.
Fragmented national research efforts are currently impeding quicker development and deployment of next-generation fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. Therefore, BALANCE will identify, quantify and analyse national activities dealing with the diverse aspects of ReSOC technology. This analysis will result in an integrated European research agenda for ReSOC technology to gain synergies and to generate breakthroughs in this highly promising but currently low-TRL technology. Close communication with the advisory board will enable alignment of the proposed agenda with the roadmaps and activities of EERA, IEC and IEA on the topic of hydrogen technologies.
Technical development will cover the development of the next generation of ReSOC cells, their integration in the optimised stack assembly, and investigation of the constraints from reversible operation at system level and integration with the grid. Cost will be addressed by using low-cost materials and improving manufacturability. The experimental work will be supported by modelling and simulation at all scales and by the techno-economic analysis of different integration of the ReSOC technology in industrial applications.

Programme(s)

H2020-EU.3.3.5. - New knowledge and technologies

H2020-EU.3.3.2. - Low-cost, low-carbon energy supply

H2020-EU.3.3.3. - Alternative fuels and mobile energy sources

H2020-EU.3.3.4. - A single, smart European electricity grid

Topic(s)

LCE-33-2016 - European Common Research and Innovation Agendas (ECRIAs) in support of the implementation of the SET Action Plan

Call for proposal

H2020-LCE-2016-ERA

See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

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Coordinator

Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy

Address

Vuorimiehentie 3
02150 Espoo

Finland

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU Contribution

€ 690 763,75

Website

Contact the organisation

Participants (7)

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COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES

France

EU Contribution

€ 502 426,25

DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET

Denmark

EU Contribution

€ 500 000

AGENZIA NAZIONALE PER LE NUOVE TECNOLOGIE, L'ENERGIA E LO SVILUPPO ECONOMICO SOSTENIBILE

Italy

EU Contribution

€ 301 000

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

United Kingdom

EU Contribution

€ 160 000

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT

Netherlands

EU Contribution

€ 246 406,25

ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE

Switzerland

INSTYTUT ENERGETYKI

Poland

EU Contribution

€ 100 000

Project information

BALANCE

Grant agreement ID: 731224

Project website

Status

Ongoing project

Start date

1 December 2016
End date

30 November 2019

Funded under:

H2020-EU.3.3.5.

H2020-EU.3.3.2.

H2020-EU.3.3.3.

H2020-EU.3.3.4.

Overall budget:

€ 2 856 096,25
EU contribution

€ 2 500 596,25

Coordinated by:

Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy

Finland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BALANCE (Increasing penetration of renewable power, alternative fuels and grid flexibility by cross-vector electrochemical processes)

Reporting period: 2016-12-01 to 2018-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The growing problem that we address is the mismatch between the solar and wind electricity production and consumption patterns. A fundamental issue with the wind and solar electricity is the dependence of the production on the weather, while the electricity consumption is dictated by human activities. The matching between electricity production and consumption must be kept at all time to ensure grid reliability. In case of oversupply of electricity, some renewable resources need to be disconnected from the grid. In case of high electricity demand, renewable energy storages could be utilised instead of producing power from flexible fossil fuel power plants. Solving this issue is critical for the EU and our society in order to decrease the environmental footprint of our energy system, our security of energy supply and minimize the cost of energy.

We ambition to address this problem with the reversible high temperature electrolyser technology. High temperature steam electrolysers use electricity to produce hydrogen that can be used as a fuel or stored for a later time. A reversible electrolyser is capable of converting this hydrogen back into electricity, meaning it can store electrical energy in the form of a chemical fuel that can be easily stored for short or long periods. Since this technology is based on Reversible Solid Oxide Cells, it is referred to as rSOC. The technology is not yet mature in terms of performance and cost for market entry. The partners of the BALANCE project are joining their effort to develop this technology and to demonstrate its feasibility. Reversible electrolyser technology is expected to support the growth of wind and solar energy by providing grid-balancing services.

As a European Common Research and Innovation Agendas (ECRIA) project, BALANCE builds on significant achievements in national research programmes. A key outcome of BALANCE will be the drafting of a European research agenda for the Reversible Solid Oxide Cell technology to coordinate the European R&D effort in order to accelerate technological development and deployment of rSOC.

Our technical objectives are to improve the technology at different scales - from electrode microstructure to system - and demonstrate it at system level in two locations. We aim to achieve 50 % efficiency in fuel cell mode and 90 % efficiency in electrolysis mode. The project should also investigate the most efficient and feasible downstream processing of the produced hydrogen into more conventional fuels.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Schematic concept of the rSOC technology.

Project information

BALANCE

Grant agreement ID: 731224

Project website

Status

Ongoing project

Start date

1 December 2016
End date

30 November 2019

Funded under:

H2020-EU.3.3.5.

H2020-EU.3.3.2.

H2020-EU.3.3.3.

H2020-EU.3.3.4.

Overall budget:

€ 2 856 096,25
EU contribution

€ 2 500 596,25

Coordinated by:

Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy

Project information

BALANCE

Grant agreement ID: 731224

Project website

Status

Ongoing project

Start date

1 December 2016
End date

30 November 2019

Funded under:

H2020-EU.3.3.5.

H2020-EU.3.3.2.

H2020-EU.3.3.3.

H2020-EU.3.3.4.

Overall budget:

€ 2 856 096,25
EU contribution

€ 2 500 596,25

Coordinated by:

Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy

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Last update: 17 August 2017

Record number: 206760

CORDIS

Objective

Coordinator

Participants (7)

Project information

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BALANCE (Increasing penetration of renewable power, alternative fuels and grid flexibility by cross-vector electrochemical processes)

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CORDIS

Objective

Coordinator

Participants (7)

Project information

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BALANCE (Increasing penetration of renewable power, alternative fuels and grid flexibility by cross-vector electrochemical processes)

Project information

Deliverables

Publications

Project information

Project information

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