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Economic assessment of a solid oxide fuel cell system for biogas utilization in sewage plants

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  • Hauptmeier, Karl
  • Penkuhn, Mathias
  • Tsatsaronis, George

Abstract

Fuel cells are likely to make their market introduction through high-efficiency applications in niche markets. A possible market for SOFC systems is therefore the utilization of biogas from sewage treatment plants. However, the feasibility of fuel cell applications crucially depends on the gas cleaning system. A system layout for SOFC integration is derived from an existing fuel cell system for biogas utilization, providing a feasible design for gas cleaning for contaminant removal and data on different operation regimes. The resulting SOFC plant provides electricity and heat for on-site usage at the sewage plant by cogeneration. The SOFC system is then analyzed at system level regarding its economic viability compared to a conventional CHP system. Costing for the different system components is made using cost data and literature-based estimates. Different design studies concerning system size and a subsequent sensitivity study concerning decisive economic parameters are used to provide robust decision measures. The study shows that economic feasibility of an SOFC system for biogas utilization can be achieved without subsidies in the near future if SOFC system prices are reduced from 7000 to about 3000 EUR/kWel. It is further shown that smaller SOFC systems are preferable due to their current economies of scale.

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  • Hauptmeier, Karl & Penkuhn, Mathias & Tsatsaronis, George, 2016. "Economic assessment of a solid oxide fuel cell system for biogas utilization in sewage plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 117(P2), pages 361-368.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:117:y:2016:i:p2:p:361-368
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.05.072
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Arduino, Francesco & Santarelli, Massimo, 2016. "Total cost of ownership of CHP SOFC systems: Effect of installation context," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 213-228.
    2. Wang, Yun & Chen, Ken S. & Mishler, Jeffrey & Cho, Sung Chan & Adroher, Xavier Cordobes, 2011. "A review of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: Technology, applications, and needs on fundamental research," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 981-1007, April.
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    1. Wang, Yuqing & Wehrle, Lukas & Banerjee, Aayan & Shi, Yixiang & Deutschmann, Olaf, 2021. "Analysis of a biogas-fed SOFC CHP system based on multi-scale hierarchical modeling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 78-87.
    2. Giarola, Sara & Forte, Ornella & Lanzini, Andrea & Gandiglio, Marta & Santarelli, Massimo & Hawkes, Adam, 2018. "Techno-economic assessment of biogas-fed solid oxide fuel cell combined heat and power system at industrial scale," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 689-704.
    3. Jia, Junxi & Shu, Lingyun & Zang, Guiyan & Xu, Lijun & Abudula, Abuliti & Ge, Kun, 2018. "Energy analysis and techno-economic assessment of a co-gasification of woody biomass and animal manure, solid oxide fuel cells and micro gas turbine hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 750-761.
    4. Su, Bosheng & Han, Wei & Zhang, Xiaosong & Chen, Yi & Wang, Zefeng & Jin, Hongguang, 2018. "Assessment of a combined cooling, heating and power system by synthetic use of biogas and solar energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 922-935.
    5. Herz, Gregor & Reichelt, Erik & Jahn, Matthias, 2017. "Design and evaluation of a Fischer-Tropsch process for the production of waxes from biogas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 370-381.
    6. Su, Bosheng & Han, Wei & He, Hongzhou & Jin, Hongguang & Chen, Zhijie & Zheng, Jieqing & Yang, Shaohui & Zhang, Xiaodong, 2020. "Using moderate carbon dioxide separation to improve the performance of solar-driven biogas reforming process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    7. Chatrattanawet, Narissara & Saebea, Dang & Authayanun, Suthida & Arpornwichanop, Amornchai & Patcharavorachot, Yaneeporn, 2018. "Performance and environmental study of a biogas-fuelled solid oxide fuel cell with different reforming approaches," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 131-140.

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