About 24/7 ZEN
The 24/7 ZEN project is a 36-month project co-funded by European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation (SERI) which is implemented by 14 partners from academia, research and industry sector.
The main goal of 24/7 ZEN project is to design and develop a high performing 33/100 kW scale rSOC power balancing plant and demonstrate its compatibility with the electricity and gas girds.
Who We Are
The multidisciplinary consortium behind this project has been spearheading innovations in the energy management and are pioneers on the rsoc systems development.
Together, all the partners will cover every step of the value chain from enhanced materials on the cell level, fully operational rSOC system, fully integrated, plug and play ecosystem for grid interconnection, renewable energy generation, transmission system operator and international quality assurance.
The Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya (IREC, www.irec.cat ) is a public research center trusted by the government of the Generalitat de Catalunya, recognized as a CERCA (Catalan research network) center and accredited as a TECNIO (Catalan technology network) center. Created in 2008, it aims to contribute to the sustainable development of society and increase the competitiveness of the industrial fabric in the energy sector.
The center develops excellence research in the medium and long term, innovation and the development of new technological products and the dissemination of knowledge relevant to the public. The group of Nanoionics and Fuel Cells (www.atlab.es), from the advanced materials for energy department, possess a high level of experience on the development and testing of SOC technologies from materials to systems acquired from the participation and coordination of different European and National projects. In this case, IREC coordinates the 24/7 ZEN project while leading the WP2 on rSOC materials and components development.
CERTH is one of the leading research centres in Greece & listed among the TOP-15 E.U. institutions with the highest participation in competitive research grants. It is a legal entity governed by private law with non-profit status, supervised by the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI) of the Greek Ministry of Development & Investments. Climate change, sustainable energy, artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, Internet of Things, holistic approaches to healthcare and nutrition, autonomous vehicles smart cities of the future and circular economy, are the primal fields around which CERTH’s five (5) institutes are organized. In addition, CERTH combines its unique research facilities and high qualified research personnel, to transform scientific knowledge into innovative technological applications, aiming to strength the national economy and respond to the needs of society at national and international level.
SolydEra SA is a dynamic and dedicated SME specialized in high-temperature electro-ceramic applications for energy and gas conversion, with particular focus on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) and Solid Oxide Electrolyzers (SOE). With high temperature membrane reactors as core competence, the company works as SolydEra’s Innovation Technology Center. Located in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, the company cooperates with many industrial and academic partners for the development of cost competitive energy conversion devices.
SolydEra SA is a dynamic and dedicated SME specialized in high-temperature electro-ceramic applications for energy and gas conversion, with particular focus on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) and Solid Oxide Electrolyzers (SOE). With high temperature membrane reactors as core competence, the company works as SolydEra’s Innovation Technology Center. Located in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, the company cooperates with many industrial and academic partners for the development of cost competitive energy conversion devices.
INERCO offers solutions in the fields of environmental and energy sustainability, industrial and occupational safety, developing both consulting and engineering services and technology, where it is a leader in decarbonisation, energy transition, emission reduction, noise control, industrial water treatment and contaminated soil remediation. INERCO develops projects in more than 70 countries and is present in Europe (Spain and Portugal), the United States, Latin America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru), Asia (India) and the Middle East (Abu Dhabi). In the field of energy technologies and decarbonisation, it is worth highlighting its developments in renewable hydrogen, biofuels, CO2 capture, biogas, batteries and energy storage, as well as in the optimisation of combustion and energy systems.
The IET, Institute for Energy Technology at OST (Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences) is the research and development partner in the field of energy. The IET has been in existence since 1997 and is closely linked to the Renewable Energies and Environmental Engineering degree program at OST. It builds on the solid expertise it imparts to the students at Bachelor’s and Master’s level. It consists of 5 fields of expertise with about 38 employees. For our customers and partners we offer interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research and services in the following fields: Wind energy innovation, Power to X, Electrical power engineering, Scientific computing & engineering, Building services engineering.
The Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia (CluBE) is a platform for cooperation of the three pillars of the regional economy: the public sector, research and entrepreneurship. The Cluster seeks to develop synergies between local and regional players and businesses in bioenergy and the environment, aiming at introducing and developing innovation in the sector and increasing its added value.
POLITO is one of the most important technical universities in Europe for engineering and architecture and is strongly committed to collaboration with industry. Thanks to its interdisciplinary outlook, POLITO is able to combine different engineering domains (Energy, system analysis and thermochemical) within materials science and environmental disciplines, to promote the development of new advanced energy materials. The Department of Applied Science and Technology then focuses on research and education involving the fundamental principles of matter and energy. POLITO has been acknowledged for its commitment to the EU Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers through the ‘HR Excellence in Research award. It has an annual budget of about €300 million and >37,000 students (19% international).
The Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT) was founded in 1984 and operates in Patras, Greece. It is one of the ten (10) Institutes of the Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas (FORTH) that reports to the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI). The mission of the Institute is to conduct forefront scientific research, contribute to technological innovation, provide training and advanced education to new researchers, and contribute to the development of the Region of Western Greece, in particular, and the country as a whole. The Institute covers a broad range of disciplines within chemical engineering sciences: (i) nanotechnology & advanced materials, (ii) energy & environment, (iii) biosciences & biotechnology. In addition to the mainstream activities in these sectors, several major activities are promoted at the interfaces of these areas, creating a truly multidisciplinary work environment. The research results respond to modern societal challenges, like green energy, environment, and quality of life.
Hochschule Luzern (HSLU) is the university of applied sciences of the six cantons of Central Switzerland and unites the departments of Engineering & Architecture, Business, Information Technology, Social Work, Design & Art and Music. With over 8ʼ300 students in education and 5,200 participants in CAS, DAS and MAS programmes, almost 400 new research projects each year and over 1ʼ900 employees, it is the largest educational institution in the heart of Switzerland. As part of HSLU, the Competence Center for Business Engineering (CC BE) is responsible for the techno-economic analysis in the 24/7 ZEN project.
EUNICE is a Green Tech- & Energy Solution Integrator producing 100% renewable electricity with a portfolio of 100MW of Wind and Solar Parks and 1.65GW of RES in pipeline. The activities of EUNICE cover the whole spectrum of the energy value chain, including the development, investment, construction, and operation of RES & H2 projects and smart micro-grids, as well as manufacturing of high-tech RES and e-Mobility products.
BOSAL is a leading manufacturer in the fields of mobility and energy, with 17 industrial sites, 12 distribution centres, 7 R&D centers and 2,500 employees around the world. BOSAL’s mission is to contribute to a cleaner world by consistently innovating in mobility and energy. At the same time, we pride ourselves in offering tailored solutions to meet the challenges of future generations in line with our values. BOSAL is committed to driving innovation in global mobility and energy by developing and manufacturing technological solutions with agility through its four market segments: Powertrain, Chassis, Energy, and Microgrid.
δesfa is the Greek Transmission System Operator and owns the Greek National Natural Gas System (NNGS), which consists of the National Natural Gas Transmission System & the LNG Terminal on the island of Revithoussa. The National Natural Gas Transmission System transports gas from the Greek-Bulgarian border and the Greek-Turkish border to consumers in continental Greece whereas the LNG terminal receives LNG cargoes, temporarily stores and regasifies LNG and supplies the National Natural Gas Transmission System.
Kiwa is a TIC company – we are an independent, impartial global leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification. We offer laboratory, (statutory) inspection, auditing and assurance activities, supported and strengthened by (strictly separated) training, consultancy and data services. Our customers are in virtually all markets and in both the private and public sectors. Wherever they are, they can count on us to create trust in their products, services, processes, (management) systems and employees. We support them with more than 10,000 engaged employees, working from over 40 countries across Europe, Asia, North and Latin America and Oceania. The Kiwa headquarters are in Rijswijk, the Netherlands. We are a member of the global SHV Family of Companies.
Through 24_7 ZEN project, an ecosystem that can be efficiently scaled and replicated to multi-MW scale installations will be developed and validated, and further knowledge on how to improve the performance of rSOC and make them more cost competitive will be generated.
At the end of the project, new and viable scenarios to provide grid balancing and supply green hydrogen will be presented by means of a deep-techno economic analysis.
WORK PACKAGES
TOP LEVEL REQUIREMENTS FOR RSOC SYSTEM WITH GRID INTEGRATION
This WP the requirements for the rSOC components, stack and system, as well as the integration of the developed system to both electricity and gas grid, to create the rSOC ecosystem will be thoroughly analysed and assessed to ensure the success of the project and provide feedback to all the WPs.
The economic and regulatory framework have a paramount effect on the technical definitions and the potential economic revenues of a smart electric system relying on RES, energy storage conversion and specifically Power-to-H2-to-Power in the form of rSOC.
Development of enhanced SOC components for optimized reversible operation
This WP deals with R&D on innovative solutions to achieve the KPI of current density and durability rate targeted by the efficient operation of the rSOC system and stated on the call (1.5 A/cm2 in SOFC and SOEC modes and 0.4%/kh).
This will require R&D on materials and surface engineering to achieve an improvement of all the components present on the SoA SOC stacks (electrodes, barrier layer and interconnects). Automatised deposition techniques and other innovative manufacturing technologies (Inkjet printing, Pulsed Laser deposition, Rapid Thermal Annealing, Electrophoresis, etc.) will ensure the high quality, high reliability and scalability of the different components, whilst improving their microstructures and features.
rSOC system development
WP3 will deal with the design, manufacturing and qualification of a reversible solid oxide cell system of 33/100 kW scale. The system will be able to produce power from natural gas, hydrogen-blended NG and hydrogen. It will also operate in steam electrolysis to produce hydrogen.
Integration of the gas, rSOC, Control and EMS modules as a system
WP4 will deal with all design, manufacturing and commissioning activities related to the integration of the rSOC system with its required auxiliary systems in a containerized prototype, which will be integrated with the different energy grids (electrical grid and natural gas grid).
The WP will be focused on the development of the main auxiliaty systems (power module, the NG conditioning system, the water treatment system, the H2 conditioning system, the steam generation & heat management system, methanation system)
Integrated Power Balancing Plant and operation (Demo)
WP5 refers to the PtG/GtP rSOC system, applied and demonstrated at CERTH’s premises in diverse context scenarios defined in WP1. The WP covers: (a) site design of the plant and will include site layout, safety assessment, detailed design and drawings of the overall installation, together with all the permitting process; (b) site preparation, civil works, construction, installation and commissioning of the various equipment to be demonstrated; (c) on-site training; (d) report of the day to-day operation and maintenance of the pilot.
Dissemination, Communication and Exploitation activities
This WP will deal with communication, dissemination and exploitation of the main activities and outcome of 24_7 ZEN to maximise the project’s visibility by reaching the key audience and target groups defined in the project, support engagement of stakeholders groups, raise project awareness, and promote the activities, tools and outcomes of the project. This WP will also access the technology and economic feasibility of the solution, generation outcomes that will be fed into the exploitation plan.
Project management and coordination
WP7 encompass the financial, administrative and contractual components including the risk monitoring and mitigation during Project. Clear management structures and techniques are in place to build the framework for effortless implementation of the project goals. WP1 is led and implemented by IREC.
All partners are involved in the execution of the tasks. IREC will act as a direct contact with the EC. The rest of the partners are involved in the management through the WP and working groups.