Boosting energy conversion efficiency using fuel cells. SOFC-ST assessment using the EMINENT tool

Abstract

A novel Early Stage energy Technology (EST) assessment tool has been developed during EC DG TREN sponsored EMINENT project. The tool can be easily accessed on the web – www.eminenttool.eu . It enables evaluating the potential of emerging energy technologies and comparing their economic and environmental impact with currently available technologies. This type of analysis reduces the lead-time for the development of new energy technologies by focusing the available financial and human resources on a smaller set of particularly promising ones. This involves the development process from the first conceptual idea to the corresponding commercial application, which can generally take many years. The current paper presents a case study which demonstrates how the EMINENT software tool can be used to assess a new emerging energy technology. As a case study, a combination of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and steam turbine (SOFC-ST) is used. The main idea is to provide useful energy to customers at higher power-to-heat ratios. The technology has been entered into the EMINENT tool database and then used in an energy chain. A similar pattern was carried out for an existing technology for a similar energy chain. Economic, energy and environmental criteria of the two technologies were then compared.