The Guangzhou Nansha “Multiple in One” Micro-Energy Demonstration project is the first energy demonstration project to be implemented based on the MoU signed between Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and China’s National Energy Administration.
The project uses various leading technologies that enables clean energy production and more efficient use of energy for the city of Guangzhou in China. Convion C60 unit do utilise leading SOFC stack technology provided by Elcogen.
The challenge
Producing clean and sustainable energy
Guangzhou is looking to expand its heat production by renewable sources and increase overall energy efficiency. Guangzhou is utilising Bedrock Thermal Energy Storage to store excessive heat underground which would be put to use during the winter. The city has also implemented a solar thermal system, to generate heat at efficiency levels of 52%.
To provide technical solution models to help reduce carbon emissions
If 10% of all of Guangzhou’s air-conditioning cooling load uses one of the technologies here, that is collecting heat energy and using it to generate cooling effect, the annual carbon emission can be reduced by 400-thousand tons. There is a genuine willingness to make sure Finland and China can jointly fight the climate change.
The Solution
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology
Many of the advanced technologies in the demonstration are provided by Finnish companies, with Elcogen playing an integral role in supplying the SOFC technology. Elcogen has teamed up with fuel cell system provider Convion to power combined heat and power (CHP) systems. SOFC and stack technology can add to the technologies that already exist to generate both heat and electricity with high efficiency levels, all whilst reducing carbon emissions.
Fuel flexibility
Elcogen’s world leading SOFC technology works using different types of fuel, including natural gas, biogas and hydrogen. This enables the SOFC technology to be utilised today, tomorrow, and beyond net zero ensuring an ever-lasting solution to green sources of power.
The results
Convion commissioned a C60 SOFC CHP system for use in Guangzhou with local support from Guangzhou Power Supply Bureau staff in summer of 2022. Commissioning was possible without presence of Convion personnel thanks to self-diagnostic and autonomous operation features of the system. Design point of 60kWe at >60% electrical net efficiency as well as >85% total efficiency was successfully achieved, and the system continues to operate as part of the microgrid.
Very encouraging results have been achieved through the continued high performance of Elcogen’s stacks, captured by Convion system. The results to date and ongoing reliability of the operation has formed a firm foundation for full industrialisation of the product and replication of the solution elsewhere.
Enn Õunpuu, founder and CEO of Elcogen, said:
„We are delighted with the success that we have seen to date on this project and the excellent results are a testement to quality of our stacks as well as Convion’s CHP system. The success of this project provides a template for future projects of this kind, also at scale, which will enable us to generate both heat and electricity at high efficiency levels, all whilst reducing carbon emissions. This is very exciting time and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners to deliver this on future projects providing power and reducing emiisions.“
Erkko Fontell, CEO of Convion, commented:
“The collaboration between Convion and Elcogen on this project has proved to be a highly successful one and one that can be replicated elsewhere. This project provides a template which can provide reliable clean and sustainable energy at scale, something vital as we look to combat the global climate change phenomenon.”
