October 2002 Enerbuild meeting

FUEL CELLS IN BUILDINGSResearch needs to develop the sector

“Low temperature fuel cell systems which have a potential for a very low cost per kW and which, in the medium term, may be commercialised in stationary (buildings, industrial and commercial), mobile or portable applications.”

“The aim should be to come to a first commercialisation of SPFC for cogeneration applications in buildings and for transport in 5-10 years”

“Demonstration of isolated applications (transport, stationary) up to 300kW systems to quantify the potential of the technology”

Fuel Cell Research strategy for Europe, 1998

Background

• Fuel cells provide heat and power, CHP• Less pollution than IC or turbines(no NOX,

SOX or particulates) when using fossil fuel• Less noise• Better electrical efficiency• Better overall efficiency• More reliable and will require less

maintenance• Quick start up if run on hydrogen• Several fuel cell types can be used, PAFC,

SOFC, PEM………

In the medium to long term fuel cells offer the best option for CHP in buildings.

• Domestic scale, microCHP• Large scale

Domestic scale

• MicroCHP 1-5 kWe• Replaces the domestic boiler• See the MICROMAP project report on

COGEN Europe web site.• Two demonstration projects in Europe

Sulzer Hexis trials• 1kWe SOFC (2.5 kW th)• Field testing 1997-• 21+ individual systems trialled• I year life?• Overall efficiency 70%• “Pre-series 1000 Premiere”

Virtual Fuel Cell Power Plant

• EC supported project• Vaillant using “Plugpower” system• PEM• 1-4.5kWe• 4 currently installed, second wave coming

Large scale projects

• Existing market for CHP• Several long term demonstrations on FC

systems• PAFC mostly (USA also)• Demonstrations in traditional best CHP

areas

Woking Borough Council UK

• 200kWe PAFC• Heat supplied to recreation centre• Electricity to a “private wire” network• One of ten PC25 demonstrated in Europe

by UTC since 1991

Malteser Hospital, Germany

• EC supported demonstration project• 200kWe (220kWth)PAFC PC25• Trigeneration system with adsorption chiller• Provides back-up UPS also• Uses solar heat for the adsorption chillers• Started May 2000, EC project completed,

continues in use (15 year life expected)

Plus

• MCFC cell at the University in Bielefeld• Fuel cell park in Essen

Current situation

• High FC cost stops commercialisation• Competing technologies• PAFC being phased out due to capital costs• Reliability of other FC systems too low• Enormous current investment, particularly

in PEM FCs for vehicles• USA and Japan investing heavily• USA has programme of PEM trials in

buildings• EC has FC programmes• New EU CHP Directive

FC BUILD Integrated Project

• FaberMaunsell• Johnson Matthey• COGEN Europe• ENKAT

Plus fuel suppliers, Government energy agencies, absorption chiller manufacturers, CHP packagers, and others

Conclusions on areas for R&D

• Time is right for trials in actual buildings• Non-domestic applications is a major area

due to the existing CHP market.• PEM cells are appropriate for buildings

applications – funding, performance and cost

• FCs will be particularly appropriate for office type installations due to power to heat ratio

Applications in non-domestic buildings

• Replacing the traditional CHP systems• Leisure centres, hospitals, hotels……….• Commercial, offices with trigeneration

(where CHP is not economic)• UPS• Peak load lopping

Research and trials needed

• Trials of FC systems in actual building environments

• Component performance examination and improvement

• Trigeneration development and performance testing

Plus• Further research in FC reliability, cost

reduction, longevity and efficiency.

Detailed testing needs, buildings related

• Comparing the output of FC systems with building needs, particularly temperatures

• Investigating installation issues, space, health and safety

• Develop appropriate control systems• Measure pollution during operation,

ventilation requirements, etc.• Maintenance and breakdown• Start up and close down issues• Efficiencies• Life time

Detailed testing needs, trigeneration

• Investigate low temperature ab/adsorption chillers

• Boosting PEM temperatures• Increasing efficiencies• Reducing costs

Developing the framework

• Education for designers, technicians, etc• University courses• Codes and standards for FCs in buildings• General publicity for public and building

owners• Develop appropriate incentives for FC use

Conclusions

• Great interest in FCs in the buildings sector• Europe needs to compete with USA and

Japan• Need to get European manufacturers going• Need to get the European CHP industry

active in the area• Publicity from good field trials is needed