Incorporating Elcogen’s next generation of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and stack technology, a fuel cell systems’ provider, Convion, will deliver a biogas fuel cell system to Biometaan OÜ in Estonia. Biometaan OÜ is an Estonian pioneer in the production of biomethane fuel for mobility from agricultural waste streams.
Convions’ C60 unit will be installed at Siimani farm, where it will generate renewable power and heat from locally produced biogas.
The challenge
Local renewable energy production
Siimani farm will utilise a combination of technologies to facilitate local production of energy in ways that are economical and sustainable. A behind-the-meter installation will provide clean, renewable energy for the facility’s own consumption and serve as a pilot installation. The system has nominal electrical output of 60 kilowatts and over 20 kilowatts of heat.
Contributing to the circular economy
In the process of producing biogas, the rest of the bio-waste is hygienised and converted to biofertilisers, capturing all value of biodegradable feed-stocks, and leaving no waste. This circular economy approach has multiple positive impacts on environment, human wellbeing, and economy, also enhancing security and resilience in food and energy systems.
The Solution
Fuel Cell systems
Elcogen has teamed up with fuel cell system developer Convion to power combined heat and power (CHP) systems. The C60 fuel cell system produces electricity at 60 kW and heat at approximately 25 kW. Additionally, electricity production efficiency is 60%, the best available in its market category, and the system has achieved 99% availability in a 7,000-hour test run.
Convion’s fuel cell systems use Elcogen’s next generation of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and stack technology.
• Reliable and dependable power generation
• Non-existing emissions of NOx, SOx, PM, VOC or noise
• 60% electrical efficiency
• By waste heat recovery 80% of total efficiency
• An option to produce high voltage DC power with direct integration to energy storage systems, while also avoiding intermediary steps of conversion and enabling load shifting functionality
Fuel flexibility
Broad fuel flexibility of Convion C60 makes direct electrification of raw, diluted biogas without an intermediary step of gas upgrading possible. Direct use of biogas is key to opening a range of new applications for small scale, local power generation.
The results
Preparations for the delivery are underway, and the system will be commissioned in operation in H2, 2022.
Biometaan and Convion plan to pursue opportunities to expand the range of use-cases for biogas in the Baltic region using CHP systems.
Enn Õunpuu, founder and CEO of Elcogen, said:
“We’re delighted to see Elcogen’s cell and stack technology used in this system to produce green electricity from locally produced biogas. The project opens the door to explore further opportunities for biogas uses in the region, and we’re very pleased that our technology has played a key role.“
Erkko Fontell, CEO of Convion, said:
“This agreement is an exciting opportunity for our company and makes good use of Convion’s unique fuel flexible technology. Demand for low carbon power generation is increasing globally, and distributed power generation by highly efficient fuel cells using biogas addresses the dual challenge of environmental sustainability and energy security.”
