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Renewable Energy

HyCoGen: System perspective for efficient production and use of hydrogen in connection to district heating

This project takes a system perspective on possible collaboration between variable electricity production and storage options in connection to district heating production. The main purpose is to utilize excess heat that arises during energy conversion for storage.

In the conversion electricity-hydrogen-electricity, by-products arise that are today considered losses and make this process unprofitable in Sweden, with today's market conditions. By utilizing and finding deposits for the by-products, hot water, hot steam and oxygen, added value is created in the process. The heat can be used as resources in the existing district heating plant or other process and thereby generate revenue.

In the electricity-hydrogen-electricity conversion, losses arise that make this process unprofitable in Sweden. Through a sectoral connection, this project will investigate the possibilities of recovering the losses, which consist of hot water, in existing district heating production. The heat can thereby generate revenue for companies that supply district heating. The aim is to thereby increase the efficiency of the entire process electricity-hydrogen-electricity from about 30% to at least 60%.

The oxygen can be used in the combustion of biomass or waste, which streamlines the combustion and reduces nitrogen compounds in the flue gases, which facilitates CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage).

To increase the opportunities for profitability in the system, the hydrogen gas can alternatively also be used for vehicle fuel or other types of industrial processes.

 

Project manager at MDU

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Project objectives


Present technical proposals and solutions for:

  • how the losses in the electrolysis (hot water) can be utilized as heat for an existing district heating plant or other process and thereby generate revenue.
  • how the losses in fuel cells can be utilized as heat for an existing district heating plant or other process.
  • how the losses in a hydrogen turbine, for example combined with a steam turbine, can be recovered and used in an existing district heating plant or other process.
  • a technical and economic comparison between hydrogen turbine and fuel cells for the conversion of hydrogen into electricity
  • a model in the program code in OptiCE with the ability to simulate and optimize a more efficient hydrogen storage in a national (Swedish) context
  • a cost and business model for an energy company, which takes into account the positive additions that the hydrogen store's "losses" and "by-products" provide. The goal is to show how the efficiency of the entire process can be increased from about 30% to at least 60% and how an investment can be made profitable.
  • to create at least two degree projects that analyze with different parts of the project.