Scientific programs and strategies concerning hydrogen

storage and fuel cells in ItalyM. Baricco

Dipartimento di Chimica IFM and NIS, Università

di Torino, Italymarcello.baricco@unito.it

Energy in Italy•

59.762.887 inhabitants

•

Energy consumption in 2007: 360170 GWh•

Energy production in 2007: 313887 GWh

•

Thermoelectric 73,8% –

Natural gas 65 %

–

Coal 17 %–

Oil products 9 %

–

Others 9 %•

Renewable 13.4 %–

Hydroelectric 80 %

–

Geothermic 11 %–

Eolic

9 %

–

Photovoltaic small quantities (39 GWh

in 2007)•

Import 12,8%

Why H2/FC in Italy•

In Italy there is a growing interest in hydrogen and related technologies, like fuel cells, according to the similar trends in most industrialised

countries.

•

This interest is mainly driven from the following factors:–

diversification of primary energy sources, with increase of energy security and reduction of dependence on imported fuels

–

reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (target for Kyoto Protocol) and the local pollution in urban areas

–

creation of opportunities for the national industry to increase their capability to provide innovative technologies, characterised

by a high added value and

export potential

Hydrogen chain

Hydrogen productionNatural gas, oil Renewable Nuclear

Steam reforming Electrolysis Thermolysis

UseFuel cells

PEM-SOFC

Mobile

Stationary

Distribution and storagePipes, re-fillng stations

Compressed gas

Liquid

Solid state

Motivations

•

Central and local governments–

Environmental issues

–

Politics–

Sustain to industries

•

Industries–

New business

–

New technology–

Development of new companies

•

Research–

Fundamental interests

–

Connections with industry –

Technological transfer–

Funding opportunities

Coordination

H2/FCprojects

Centralgovernment

Localgovernment

Industries

ResearchEurope

Italian H2/FC platform•

To coordinate the activities in this field, an agreement was established in 2004 between the Ministry of Education, University and Regions, with the following objectives :–

to define an Italian research and deployment strategy for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and promote initiatives capable of increasing the national industry’s competitiveness

–

to establish a strong and co-ordinate relationship with the European Platform and to favour a major participation of the national organizations

–

to avoid duplication of efforts between different projects so that resources can be used in the most effective way

•

The development of an Italian Platform for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells is still under discussion.

Specific

agreements: associations

•

Italian Association for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells - H2IT–

over 100 members (Regions, Universities, Research centres, Industries)

–

the goal is to stimulate and develop the market for the use of hydrogen, to create a strong industry voice of companies and institutes involved in the sector, and to secure a leading role for Italy in the world market.

–

www.h2it.org

Specific

agreements: associations

•

Italian

Hydrogen

Forum –

ITFORUM•

Its mission is:–

to ease hydrogen development as an energy vector and to promote hydrogen related technologies;

–

to spread knowledge about hydrogen related technologies and their applications in the industrial sector;

–

to improve the relationship among Italian researchers and foreign associations, organizing either national based and international

meetings, workshops and conferences, or promoting congresses and conferences held in countries different from Italy;

–

to provide a reliable meeting point for academia, R&D departments and industry, involved in the development of hydrogen based energy systems;

–

to promote contracts, exchanges and co-operations with foreign operators.

•

www.h2forum.it

Specific

agreements: associations

•

H2ROMA–

Magazine, events and education.

–

H2Roma is •

Green Expo, a low emission cars exhibition

•

Green Drive, a test drive on the road of future's cars

•

Agorà

for the schools•

Conference Hall, a free entrance place for various debates and meetings

–

www.h2roma.org

Specific

agreements: hydrogen laboratories

•

Hydrogen

Park–

A consortium for Hydrogen has been established in Marghera, near Venice, an industrial area characterized by:

•

availability of large quantity of hydrogen (6,000 tonn/year, 40% of the Italian production) as by-product of industrial processes

•

presence of many industrial organizations already involved in hydrogen field

–

Various demonstration activities, both for stationary and transport applications of hydrogen.

–

www.hydrogenpark.com

Specific

agreements: hydrogen laboratories

Specific

agreements: hydrogen laboratories

•

HySyLab–

is

a centre

of excellence

on hydrogen

technologies;

co-financed

by

EU, it

was

launched

by

Environment Park together

with

Gruppo Sapio, GTT, Provincia di

Torino, Politecnico di Torino, and with

the support

of Regione Piemonte and Città

di Torino

–

is the competence centre of the Piedmont Hydrogen System and of the operators of the sector, as a support laboratory for small and medium sized enterprises and as a training centre for future technicians working in the sector of the applied research.

–

www.hysylab.com

Production:Hydrogen generation via anaerobic digestion of organic materials

The activity is oriented to generate hydrogen from organic waste through a 2-steps anaerobic digestion.

Presently the process is running on a pilot scale plant, testing different results feeding different organic materials and trying to set up the easiest conditions for a real scale transfer.

•No thermally driven processes

•Strict control on kinetics

•Use of easily available bacteria to drive the process

P1-B

P1-C

Polmone

B

C

M

Stoccaggio Idrogeno

Serbatoio Fanghi

Acido Base

P2-D

P1-D

D E

P2-A

Pompa per vuoto

Timer

Timer

35

200 litri

V1-B

V1-C

V4-B

H2O

Stoccaggio Biogas

D E

V2-C

H2O

120

140

160

180

200

A 200 litri

TrituratoreTramoggia700 litri

FI

H2O

P1-A

A Serbatoio di alimentazione e pretrattamentoB Bioreattore per la produzione di IdrogenoC Bioreattore per la produzione di BiogasD LavaggioE DeumidificazioneM Membrana di separazione IdrogenoP1 Pompa di movimentazione liquameP2 Pompa di alimentazione reattore BP3 Pompa di reintegro reattore CP4 Pompa di ricircolo serbatoio AP5 Pompa a vuoto per idrogenoP6 Pompa dosatrice sol. acidaP7 Pompa dosatrice sol. basica

Cubo1000 litri

filtro

V1-A

T1-AlLS-A

hLS-A

hLS1-C

ricirc

olo

rH1-C

2,5 Litri

5 Litri

hLS-B

Litri

pH1-BrH1-BT1-B

V4-D

V3-D

V1-D

V2-DpH1-A

T1-C

pH1-C

Serbatoio liquami

P2-CP3-C

V2-B

V3-B

Tramoggia700 litri

C1-B

PS1-B

C1-C

PS1-C

LM-C

hLS2-C

VI1-B

VI1-C

Composition of gas

61.23

38.73

0.040.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

H2 CO2 CH4

%

Applications: Test of PEM single cell

Applications: Test of PEM stacks

PEMFC-stacks characterisation up to 10 kWSingle cells and global voltageIntegration and tests of auxiliary modules

PEM-FC up to 20 kWThin-film water evaporators for

gas humidificationThermal mass flow controllers for

anode gas composition control (pure oxygen, reformate, syngas…)

Electronic loadRemote control

Ready for high temperature FCs

Local Authorities

Laboratories

Universities

70 private companies including 5 start-ups

•

support and direct research in hydrogen technologies;

•

promote the professional growth of technical and management personnel in universities, laboratories, and private enterprises;

•

support the development of regional infrastructures for hydrogen exploitation;

•

promote the transfer of technology from lab- to industrial-scale;

•

sustain research on technologies for hydrogen production from renewable sources.

Specific agreements: Sistema Piemonte Idrogeno SPH2

Piedmont and Lombardy (13 million residents, 9.3 million vehicles, 29% of Italian GDP, highest concentration

of industries and commercial activities) have agreed upon a common and integrated strategy on H2 and FC.

Next 5 years planned resources: 50 M€

5th corridor

Contacts are in progress with several countries along the 5th

corridor and with other Italian Regions to expand this network with a focus on H2 & renewable energies.

Specific agreements: Piemonte and Lombardia regions

Status of fuel cell activities in Italy

PEFCPEFC• 1-50 kW systems for residential power generation• Development of systems for transportation• Modular systems for multi-MW power plants

MCFCMCFC • Development of systems for stationary applications (125 kW – 4 MW)

SOFCSOFC• Basic research on novel materials and

components • Demonstration of a 100 kW CHP unit (GTT,

Turin)

DMFCDMFC • Basic research on materials and components• Development of stacks for portable applications

Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells: Nuvera Fuel Cells

►

PowerFlow™- 2.5-5 kW PEFC module for a variety of industrial applications

►

AVANTI™ - 4.6 kW CHP system►

FORZA™- modular systems (up to120 kW) for multi-MW power plants and heavy-duty applications

STATIONARY APPLICATIONSSTATIONARY APPLICATIONS

TRANSPORTATIONTRANSPORTATION►

ANDROMEDA™- 85 kW FC stack►

STAR™ - gasoline fuel processor

Hydrogen power modules for industrial vehicles and equipmentSystems for cogenerationGasoline fuel processor and fuel cell stacks for automotive

Andromeda

PowerFlow (5 kW)AVANTI

FC Qualification Lab OsioFORZA

STAR

Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Arcotronics Fuel Cells

Development of PEFCPEFC

stacks and integrated systems (500 W systems (500 W --

50 50

kW) kW) for stationary applications for stationary applications and transportationand transportation.

5 kW CHP PEFC system1kW PEFC portable power module

30 kW CHP unit

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells Ansaldo

Fuel Cells

•

Development of stacks and balance of plant components

•

Development of multi-megawatt demo units

Production and commercialization ofProduction and commercialization of0.1 0.1 –– 10 MW MCFC plant10 MW MCFC plant

Two electrochemical modules, each formed by two stacks, integrated with their relevant ancillaries

“Series 2TW”

FA150R stack (AFCo)

Stack conditioning (Guadalix)

““Series 2TWSeries 2TW”” plantsplants

Projects: hydrogen public refilling stations

Eni

realised in a AGIP multienergy station in Collesalvetti

(near Livorno)

an integrated demo system, producing energy by wind turbines, by a photovoltaic field and by a CHP micro turbine fuelled with natural gas.

Produced electric energy is used for normal utilization in the station and to generate hydrogen

Milano

Collesalvetti

Torino

H2/CH4 distribution planned in Puglia

Projects: Torino’s bus

Specifications

Frame: Monty E70 Modified

Electric engine: Brushless. 250W, 500W peak

Battery: Lead Acid. 48V-7.6Ah

Maximum speed: 30 Km/h

Charging time: 7-9h (batteries), 1h (metal hydride tanks)

Range: 60Km

Wheels: 16”x2.4

Brakes: Drum brakes

Analogic speedometer: Speed / Charge

Weight: 80 Kg

FC system

Fuel cell: Arcotronics, 20 cells, 20- 10V, 500W

H2 tank: 2 Metal Hydride H200 Bond by LabTech, 200 Nl

Electronics

DSP based controller

control of power flow from stack to batteries and motor

LCDshows all parameters of power system

System diagnostic and communication:

via laptop intarface (RS232)

Projects: Hysyrider®

H2

scooter

Projects: hydrogen driven “vaporetto” in Venice•

Fuel

cells

with

hydrogen

stored

in metal

hydride

tanks.

Projects: Brunate’s

house Como lake

Electricity

production: photovoltaic fields

Two cupolas and small modules

Total power about 17 kW

Electrolyser

Storage

90 Nm3 compressed gas at 200 bar

30 Nm3 metal hydrides at 30 bar

PEM Fuel Cell

Projects: Torino 2006 Hydrogen

olimpics

HIGHhy

H2 Mountain

Hydrogen School: Development of Teaching Labs on the Hydrogen Chain

600 Nml/min Electrolyser100 Nl @ 4 barg TankAir Compressor200 W Fuel CellElectronic DC LoadGas Management SystemSoftware for Data,Acquisition

and Control

Design, realization and set up of 9 teaching labs 9 teaching labs Technical High School of Technical High School of each Piedmont district each Piedmont district in order to promote and in order to promote and diffuse the knowledge diffuse the knowledge of hydrogen of hydrogen technologies.technologies.

Projects: educational

HySyOne: is an educational lab to learn and observe all the hydrogen chain

Italian

activity

on hydrogen

storage

Projects: Hysy

Vision at the RegioSTARS 2007, short listed among the 6 best european

funded projects in the tech transfer field

Development of a metal hydride tank:

•Alloy preparation

•Thermofluidodynamic studies

•Tank production

•Testing

European collaborations

•

JTI–

Industrial group

–

Research

group–

Regional

group

•

Projects

in the 6°

and 7°

FP–CMA–Hytran–COSY–FlyHy–ZEROREGIO

–HYSYS–ROADS2HYCOM–AUTOBRANE–ZEOCELL–HyRamp–………….

Conclusions•

In Italy there is a large interest in hydrogen and related technologies, like fuel cells.

•

Some FC companies are already in the market.•

Scientific competences are available.

•

Many R&D projects are being carried out in this field, in the frame of European and national programs, with the involvement of industries, research organisations and users.

•

An effort has to be undertaken to coordinate the programs with the establishment of an Italian Platform on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells.

Acnowledgments

•

Angelo Benedetti –

Regione Piemonte•

Sergio de Sanctis

–

Gastec

Vesta

•

Raffaella Gerboni

–

ITForum•

Rosario Cantelli

–

Università

di Roma

•

Alessandro Graizzaro

–

Hysylab•

Francesco Di Mario -

ENEA