Highly efficient electrochemical systems for energy and industry
The project P2.4 HyEmpire plays a vital role to meet the major challenges of the energy transition to renewable energy, by enabling the holistic implementation of renewable energy and hydrogen. Hydrogen is necessary to ensure a secure and resilient cross-sectoral energy supply for all end-energy sectors. Hence HyEmpire aims to improve the technology components in between of production and utilization like Electro Chemical Compression and Electro Chemical Purification (ECC and ECP). Especially the increase in efficiency over the lifetime, cost reduction aspects and the reliability and safety aspects of entire H2 infrastructures are in the focus of the project.
Project goals
In addition to efficient industrial scale electrolysis and stationary fuel cell plants, advanced storage systems and adequate logistics solutions investigated in Area 1 and 2, cross-sector H2-infrastructures require safe, affordable, dynamic and highly reliable compression, purification and reconversion solutions. This project focuses on the development, optimization and assessment of electrochemical systems for compression, purification and stationary power generation. This includes:
- Increase efficiency, lifetime and reliability of electrochemical compressor (ECC) stack and systems to reduce total costs of H2-compression
- Develop an efficient, compact and economical electrochemical purifier (ECP) to extract ultrapure hydrogen (› 99,9 %) out of various input sources with low to high H2-content
- Pathing the way for a broad deployment of (reverse) SOFC-technologies by improving today’s low reliability
- Improve overall safety and reliability of H2-infrastructures
Role of the AIT
Identification and selection of relevant use cases
- Analysis of potential use cases for ECC and ECP in industry, urban and rural areas
- Selection of the most relevant use cases with the help of industrial partners
Definition of key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Definition of technical and economic KPIs depending on the application (e.g. mass flow, pressure, energy demand, cost structure)
System requirements and framework conditions
- Definition of requirements for system integration, safety and regulatory aspects
Optimisation of the system size
- Dimensioning of ECC/ECP systems for H₂ production from renewable energies, taking into account market trends and demand
Technology and profitability assessment
- Carrying out a comprehensive techno-economic analysis including the influence on the hydrogen price and qualitative assessment of technology requirements and operating profiles
- Impact analysis of ECC and ECP on the hydrogen price
Funding
This project is funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) under the COMET Centre of the 6th Call for COMET Centres (K1), subcontracted by HyCentA.
