Final Impact Assessment of a Small-Scale Biomass Gasifier Fuel-Cell CHP System for Clean On-site Power Generation

Abstract

The EU Horizon 2020 funded project ‘FlexiFuel-SOFC’ (Grant Agreement n° 641,229, 2015–2019) developed a new and highly efficient small-scale biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system for clean on-site cogeneration. It shall replace traditional systems based on fossil fuels, being at the same time fuel flexible for utilizing solid biomass residues (e.g. wood chips or olive stones), robust, cost efficient, and distinguish itself by high electric and overall efficiencies as well as almost zero emissions. In particular small-scale CHP technologies suitable for micro-generation are challenging, but biomass gasification and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer significant potentials and important co-benefits, such as security of energy supply as well as emission reductions in terms of greenhouse gases or air-quality related pollutants.

This paper presents final impact assessment results from the development of the novel CHP system, consisting of a fuel flexible small-scale fixed-bed updraft gasifier, a compact gas cleaning unit and an SOFC for electricity generation. System efficiencies and emissions of solid fuel combustion and grid electricity effects were evaluated. Gasifier-fuel cell CHP technologies produce significantly less fuel-related emissions compared to traditional heating systems and also produce electricity with fewer emissions than traditional grid electricity generation systems.

Such new developments are also influenced by several national and international policies and measures, which can prevent or incentivize the potential market of the new technology. Therefore, complementary to the results of the final impact assessment, this paper also addresses selected policies on EU and Member States level with relevance for small-scale CHP technologies. In doing so, this paper asks from an innovation point of view how the current policy mix hinders or supports the market uptake of such small-scale CHP technologies. The paper factors in relevant elements of the policy package such as the CHP Directive, the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.