SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media Ben Geerlings Residence Palace, Brussels 10th February 2009 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM Where EU energy projects meet the media Hydrogen from biomass

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media HYVOLUTION: some facts –FP6 Integrated Project –non-thermal production of pure hydrogen from biomass –22 partners from 13 countries –from January 2006 until January 2011 –14 M€ budget –10 M€ EU grant

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media HYVOLUTION: the partners

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media Aim of HYVOLUTION To deliver prototypes of process modules which are needed to produce hydrogen of high quality in a bioprocess which is fed by multiple feedstocks (Development of a 2-stage bioprocess and construction of prototype modules for production of hydrogen)

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media HYVOLUTION: the whole chain!

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media Target of HYVOLUTION Production costs of hydrogen in a conceptual design deemed feasible and as envisaged for hydrogen production using HYVOLUTION technology

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media HYVOLUTION: activities Progress beyond business as usual by: –testing various feedstocks –and various strains of bacteria –integrating, in a systematic way, “bio” with physics, chemistry, engineering and socioeconomics Biggest challenge is reducing the production costs to make biohydrogen in 2020 competitive with conventional biofuels

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media HYVOLUTION Methodology for selecting biomass –crops and agro-waste considered –evaluation using eight criteria –evaluation summary in suitability map

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media

HYVOLUTION (2) Bioprocess issues –strain selection (yield, productivity, feedstock adaptation) –strain improvement (genetic modification, hydrogen metabolism) –robust fermentations (mixed cultures) –bioreactor configuration –process control

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media HYVOLUTION (3) Bioreactors (thermophilic and photo- fermentation) –material –costs –reactor volume –ease of use

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media HYVOLUTION (4) Gas upgrading –using a membrane contactor H 2 O+MEA non-porous layer porous support H 2 +CO 2 H 2 H 2 O+ MEACOO - + MEAH +

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media HYVOLUTION (5) Development of sensor systems for process control Requirements: –high concentration measurements (up to 100%) –availability at low price –resistant to the main components (H 2, CO 2 and H 2 O) –measurement of contaminants (O 2, CH 4 and H 2 S)

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media HYVOLUTION (6) Life cycle analysis: –identification of environmental impacts –preliminary results: avoid use of strip gas replace NaOH by Ca(OH) 2 recycle process water avoid addition of external nutrients

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media HYVOLUTION: Four feedstocks selected for fermentation tests: –sugar beet –potato steam peels –wheat bran –barley straw

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media HYVOLUTION: (2) Two case studies: –rural south: Thessaly, Greece –urban north: Rotterdam, The Netherlands –stand-alone plant vs. add-on plant (associated with a local agro-industrial facility)

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GOES MAINSTREAM: Where EU energy projects meet the media Hydrogen as the future bio-fuel green Thank you for your attention!