Technical analysis of a renewable woody biomass generator/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

In the REPowerEU plan, the European Commission has envisaged a rapid reduction in dependence on fossil fuels, an acceleration of the green transition and has shown its willingness to tackle the climate crisis by resorting to greater and better use of renewable energy sources. Furthermore, from 2035 the “Fit for 55” climate package aims to reduce emissions of pollutants and climate-altering gas emissions and to encourage the diffusion of new pure electric or fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles. In this context, this article deals with a poly-generative energy system for the production of H2, electric and thermal powers. It is able to satisfy the new vehicles needs and/or the electric/thermal loads of a rural building located in Rende (Italy, Lat. 39.3°N) on two typical winter and summer days. The poly-generative system is mainly composed of an energy system fed by woody biomass in a cogenerative arrangement, a photovoltaic system and a PEM electrolyzer. Technical analysis of the system shows that for the mixed fleet of 30 vehicles the output electrical and thermal powers and hydrogen production are respectively of about 50 kW, 97 kW and 9.23 kg. Furthermore, the system covers totally the electric load on summer days and the thermal load for hot water production in the summer and winter days.