Technical feasibility study of a renewable fuel cell/electrolyzer poly-generative system

Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy

^* Corresponding author: address: Via P. Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy, Phone: +39 0984 494942, e-mail: giuseppe.delorenzo@unical.it

Abstract

Recently the European Commission presented the REPowerEU plan to rapidly reduce dependence on fossil fuels, accelerate the green transition and tackle the climate crisis through greater and better use of renewable energy sources. In Europe from 2035 with the “Fit for 55” climate package, pure electric or hybrid fuel cell electric vehicles will replace new pure or hybrid ICE vehicles fed by gasoline or diesel to reduce pollution and the generation of climate-altering gas emissions. Based on this context, in this article a poly-generative energy system for the hydrogen, electric and thermal powers production is defined to satisfy the needs of pure electric or hybrid fuel cell electric mobility and/or the electric/thermal loads of a residential building located in Rende (Italy) on two typical winter and summer days. It consists mainly of an SOFC system fed by biogas or bio-methane in cogenerative arrangement, a photovoltaic system and a PEM electrolyzer. Technical feasibility study results of the system show that for the mixed fleet of 30 vehicles the output electrical and thermal powers and hydrogen production are respectively 60 kW, 19 kW, 3.1 kg (biogas) and 60 kW, 33 kW, 3.1 kg (bio-methane). Furthermore, the system covers totally the electric load in summer day and at 80% (biogas) or totally (bio-methane) the thermal load for hot water production in summer and winter days.