Project

DynEl

Successful temperature decoupling, power converter concept design and profitability study.

Project info

Funded by Innovationsnetværket Smart Energy
Boble Project ’DynEl’
Mar – Dec 2019
328,000 DKK

The mission of the Innovation Network Smart Energy (Inno-SE) is to build a knowledge bridge to ensure research, development and innovation in Danish companies. The network’s target group are Danish companies (especially SMEs) that manufacture and / or develop solutions within smart, integrated energy systems as well as all forms of technologies that can contribute to energy efficiency and conversion to a fossil-free energy system.

DynElectro is happy to announce the results from the project ’DynEl ’ funded by Innovationsnetværket Smart Energy.

A demonstration of electrothermal balanced operation AC:DC operation at with a commercial 1 kW SOEC stack. The AC:DC operation controls the temperature inside the SOEC stacks. This allows us to maintain a constant temperature inside the stacks, independent of the overall load. The decoupling of the temperature profile inside the stack and the load to the stack enables rapid variations of the system load without damaging the stacks. This opens for dynamic PtX. Dynamic PtX is required for production of green transportation fuels while balancing the load from the PtX system with the intermittent power production from wind and solar.

A report written together with Centrica PlC and Hybrid Greentech analyzing the profitability of co-producing hydrogen and ancillary services to either the FCR, FCR-N or the FCR-D markets.

A concept and design for a cost efficient power converter enabling AC:DC operation of SOEC stacks in a MW-scale PtX system. The scalable converter is uniquely designed to avoid noise on the electricity grid while providing dynamic operation of the SOECs. In addition the controller can provide capacity for load-balancing and ancillary services such as reactive power, voltage control or frequency containment reserves (FCR).

The published report shows high internal rates of return (IRR) with a 10-year investment horizon can be achieved with small- (~0.33 MW), and medium- (~17 MW) scale SOEC systems. If the SOEC lifetime can be increased to 5 years, the IRR exceeds that of AEC-based systems.

IRR10 yr, for Small- (0.33 MW) and Medium-sized (17 MW) SOEC based systems co-producing H2 and FCR reserves. IRR10 yr is calculated for 2 and 5 year SOEC stack lifetime using forecasted 2025 spot market electricity prices incl. tariffs [1] and turn-key SOEC system prices [2].

[1] PTX I DANMARK FØR 2030 – Potentiale for PtX i Danmark på kortere sigt i et systemperspektiv. Energinet. 2019  Contract No.: 18/07002-7.
[2] Technology Data for Renewable Fuels. Energinet and Danish Energy Agency, June 2017.