IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v14y2021i15p4517-d601915.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Theoretical Study on Reversible Solid Oxide Cells as Key Enablers of Cyclic Conversion between Electrical Energy and Fuel

Author

Listed:
  • Saheli Biswas

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia)

  • Shambhu Singh Rathore

    (CSIRO Energy, Clayton South, Melbourne, VIC 3169, Australia)

  • Aniruddha Pramod Kulkarni

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia)

  • Sarbjit Giddey

    (CSIRO Energy, Clayton South, Melbourne, VIC 3169, Australia)

  • Sankar Bhattacharya

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia)

Abstract

Reversible solid oxide cells (rSOC) enable the efficient cyclic conversion between electrical and chemical energy in the form of fuels and chemicals, thereby providing a pathway for long-term and high-capacity energy storage. Amongst the different fuels under investigation, hydrogen, methane, and ammonia have gained immense attention as carbon-neutral energy vectors. Here we have compared the energy efficiency and the energy demand of rSOC based on these three fuels. In the fuel cell mode of operation (energy generation), two different routes have been considered for both methane and ammonia; Routes 1 and 2 involve internal reforming (in the case of methane) or cracking (in the case of ammonia) and external reforming or cracking, respectively. The use of hydrogen as fuel provides the highest round-trip efficiency (62.1%) followed by methane by Route 1 (43.4%), ammonia by Route 2 (41.1%), methane by Route 2 (40.4%), and ammonia by Route 1 (39.2%). The lower efficiency of internal ammonia cracking as opposed to its external counterpart can be attributed to the insufficient catalytic activity and stability of the state-of-the-art fuel electrode materials, which is a major hindrance to the scale-up of this technology. A preliminary cost estimate showed that the price of hydrogen, methane and ammonia produced in SOEC mode would be ~1.91, 3.63, and 0.48 $/kg, respectively. In SOFC mode, the cost of electricity generation using hydrogen, internally reformed methane, and internally cracked ammonia would be ~52.34, 46.30, and 47.11 $/MWh, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Saheli Biswas & Shambhu Singh Rathore & Aniruddha Pramod Kulkarni & Sarbjit Giddey & Sankar Bhattacharya, 2021. "A Theoretical Study on Reversible Solid Oxide Cells as Key Enablers of Cyclic Conversion between Electrical Energy and Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:15:p:4517-:d:601915
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/15/4517/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/15/4517/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Clausen, Lasse R., 2017. "Energy efficient thermochemical conversion of very wet biomass to biofuels by integration of steam drying, steam electrolysis and gasification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 327-336.
    2. Liso, Vincenzo & Olesen, Anders Christian & Nielsen, Mads Pagh & Kær, Søren Knudsen, 2011. "Performance comparison between partial oxidation and methane steam reforming processes for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) micro combined heat and power (CHP) system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(7), pages 4216-4226.
    3. Fúnez Guerra, C. & Reyes-Bozo, L. & Vyhmeister, E. & Jaén Caparrós, M. & Salazar, José Luis & Clemente-Jul, C., 2020. "Technical-economic analysis for a green ammonia production plant in Chile and its subsequent transport to Japan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 404-414.
    4. Santhanam, S. & Heddrich, M.P. & Riedel, M. & Friedrich, K.A., 2017. "Theoretical and experimental study of Reversible Solid Oxide Cell (r-SOC) systems for energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 202-214.
    5. Richard G. Newell & Yifei Qian & Daniel Raimi, 2016. "Global Energy Outlook 2015," NBER Working Papers 22075, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Luo, Xing & Wang, Jihong & Dooner, Mark & Clarke, Jonathan, 2015. "Overview of current development in electrical energy storage technologies and the application potential in power system operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 511-536.
    7. Jian Wei & Qingjie Ge & Ruwei Yao & Zhiyong Wen & Chuanyan Fang & Lisheng Guo & Hengyong Xu & Jian Sun, 2017. "Directly converting CO2 into a gasoline fuel," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, August.
    8. Shafiee, Shahriar & Topal, Erkan, 2009. "When will fossil fuel reserves be diminished?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 181-189, January.
    9. Liu, Shuai & Wei, Li & Wang, Huai, 2020. "Review on reliability of supercapacitors in energy storage applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    10. Hadjipaschalis, Ioannis & Poullikkas, Andreas & Efthimiou, Venizelos, 2009. "Overview of current and future energy storage technologies for electric power applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(6-7), pages 1513-1522, August.
    11. Wang, Ligang & Zhang, Yumeng & Pérez-Fortes, Mar & Aubin, Philippe & Lin, Tzu-En & Yang, Yongping & Maréchal, François & Van herle, Jan, 2020. "Reversible solid-oxide cell stack based power-to-x-to-power systems: Comparison of thermodynamic performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    12. Wang, Yifei & Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Xuan, Jin & Wang, Huizhi, 2016. "A review on unitized regenerative fuel cell technologies, part-A: Unitized regenerative proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 961-977.
    13. Wendel, Christopher H. & Braun, Robert J., 2016. "Design and techno-economic analysis of high efficiency reversible solid oxide cell systems for distributed energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 118-131.
    14. Muhammad Aziz & Agung Tri Wijayanta & Asep Bayu Dani Nandiyanto, 2020. "Ammonia as Effective Hydrogen Storage: A Review on Production, Storage and Utilization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-25, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wang, Chaoyang & Chen, Ming & Liu, Ming & Yan, Junjie, 2020. "Dynamic modeling and parameter analysis study on reversible solid oxide cells during mode switching transient processes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    2. Reznicek, Evan P. & Braun, Robert J., 2020. "Reversible solid oxide cell systems for integration with natural gas pipeline and carbon capture infrastructure for grid energy management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    3. Fiammetta Rita Bianchi & Barbara Bosio, 2021. "Operating Principles, Performance and Technology Readiness Level of Reversible Solid Oxide Cells," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-23, April.
    4. Zhang, Yumeng & Wang, Ningling & Tong, Xiaofeng & Duan, Liqiang & Lin, Tzu-En & Maréchal, François & Van herle, Jan & Wang, Ligang & Yang, Yongping, 2021. "Reversible solid-oxide cell stack based power-to-x-to-power systems: Economic potential evaluated via plant capital-cost target," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    5. Amladi, Amogh & Venkataraman, Vikrant & Woudstra, Theo & Aravind, P.V., 2024. "Hot air recirculation enlarges efficient operating window of reversible solid oxide cell systems: A thermodynamic study of energy storage using ammonia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 355(C).
    6. Zhao, Yongliang & Song, Jian & Liu, Ming & Zhao, Yao & Olympios, Andreas V. & Sapin, Paul & Yan, Junjie & Markides, Christos N., 2022. "Thermo-economic assessments of pumped-thermal electricity storage systems employing sensible heat storage materials," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C), pages 431-456.
    7. Goraj, Rafał & Kiciński, Marcin & Ślefarski, Rafał & Duczkowska, Anna, 2023. "Validity of decision criteria for selecting power-to-gas projects in Poland," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    8. Gallo, A.B. & Simões-Moreira, J.R. & Costa, H.K.M. & Santos, M.M. & Moutinho dos Santos, E., 2016. "Energy storage in the energy transition context: A technology review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 800-822.
    9. Chen, Yanbo & Luo, Yu & Shi, Yixiang & Cai, Ningsheng, 2020. "Theoretical modeling of a pressurized tubular reversible solid oxide cell for methane production by co-electrolysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    10. Zhou, Yu & Xia, Caichu & Zhao, Haibin & Mei, Songhua & Zhou, Shuwei, 2018. "An iterative method for evaluating air leakage from unlined compressed air energy storage (CAES) caverns," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 434-445.
    11. Hemmati, Reza & Saboori, Hedayat & Saboori, Saeid, 2016. "Stochastic risk-averse coordinated scheduling of grid integrated energy storage units in transmission constrained wind-thermal systems within a conditional value-at-risk framework," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 762-775.
    12. Zhang, Ziyu & Ding, Tao & Zhou, Quan & Sun, Yuge & Qu, Ming & Zeng, Ziyu & Ju, Yuntao & Li, Li & Wang, Kang & Chi, Fangde, 2021. "A review of technologies and applications on versatile energy storage systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    13. Coilín ÓhAiseadha & Gerré Quinn & Ronan Connolly & Michael Connolly & Willie Soon, 2020. "Energy and Climate Policy—An Evaluation of Global Climate Change Expenditure 2011–2018," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-49, September.
    14. Saboori, Hedayat & Hemmati, Reza, 2017. "Maximizing DISCO profit in active distribution networks by optimal planning of energy storage systems and distributed generators," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 365-372.
    15. Philip Tafarte & Annedore Kanngießer & Martin Dotzauer & Benedikt Meyer & Anna Grevé & Markus Millinger, 2020. "Interaction of Electrical Energy Storage, Flexible Bioenergy Plants and System-friendly Renewables in Wind- or Solar PV-dominated Regions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-25, March.
    16. Luta, Doudou N. & Raji, Atanda K., 2019. "Optimal sizing of hybrid fuel cell-supercapacitor storage system for off-grid renewable applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 530-540.
    17. Aliaga, D.M. & Romero, C.P. & Feick, R. & Brooks, W.K. & Campbell, A.N., 2024. "Modelling and simulation of a novel liquid air energy storage system with a liquid piston, NH3 and CO2 cycles for enhanced heat and cold utilisation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    18. Pu, Zonghua & Zhang, Gaixia & Hassanpour, Amir & Zheng, Dewen & Wang, Shanyu & Liao, Shijun & Chen, Zhangxin & Sun, Shuhui, 2021. "Regenerative fuel cells: Recent progress, challenges, perspectives and their applications for space energy system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    19. Zhang, Yongliang & Han, Minfang, 2019. "Energy storage and syngas production by switching cathode gas in nickel-yttria stabilized zirconia supported solid oxide cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C), pages 1-10.
    20. Preininger, Michael & Stoeckl, Bernhard & Subotić, Vanja & Mittmann, Frank & Hochenauer, Christoph, 2019. "Performance of a ten-layer reversible Solid Oxide Cell stack (rSOC) under transient operation for autonomous application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:15:p:4517-:d:601915. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.