Description
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The project focuses on the development of a technological equipment for hydrogen production characterized by medium-size on site units (capacity of 50 m3(stp)/h)for the production of a hydrogen rich gas, comprising an autothermal reforming reactor fed with methane and/or liquid fossil or renewable fuels, integrated with water gas shift, preferential oxidation, membrane separation stages for H2 purification. As the hydrogen is predominantly produced by fossil fuels in centralized plants, this equipment can sustain and accelerate the first phase of experimentation and then extend itself to distributed hydrogen applications (included H2 and/or CH4-H2 mixtures vehicles refuel stations and development of power generation auxiliary systems for naval applications) in combination with H2 production technologies by renewable sources. The perspectives of hydrogen market expansion, the economic and employment impact, the position of the applicant SOL, Italian leader in production and distribution of industrial gases, and the presence of Processi Innovativi, company of TP-KTI group, world leader in the design of H2 production plants, enable for the development of a technology allowing the H2 distributed production fit properly with the strategic objectives of the venture and its partners.
The main Consulting and Analysis Institutes with global significance and industrial data agree to provide a consistent development of this market over a period of 5-10 years up to sizes of several billion euros per year. In support, there are strategic support and development programs, eg. The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) that summarizes the EU's objectives to be achieved by 2020: 20% reduction in CO2 emissions, a 20% overall share of renewables in energy mix, improving 20% average energy efficiency. In this perspective, hydrogen plays a major role as evidenced also by the ongoing European Joint Technology for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen (FCH JU).
It is therefore necessary to develop a research, starting from the current knowledge, to develop an innovative technology for hydrogen production that combines: (i) high hydrocarbon conversion and high yield to hydrogen, (ii) efficient reduction and integration of unit operations included in the process enabling the installation in less sophisticated environments than the refineries and petrochemical plants.
There is a strong interest by SOL in the application of these units in the field of industrial thermal treatments, in which SOL has an annual turnover of approximately 10 M€ and offers a wide range of "service" through the supply to end users of gas and gas mixtures necessary to the treatment but also of on-site generation systems from methane (SOL boasts many operational facilities). Therefore, an evolution of these systems, from "compact", "multifuel" and "flexibility" point of view (eg. providing alternative heating such as electricity very competitive especially in certain countries because of the lowest cost / kW) for SOL will bring competitive advantages for new market segments overcoming some currently binding problems (eg. space, fuel availability, costs, etc.).
If all the project objectives were achieved, the availability of this innovative product will enable SOL to increase significantly its facilities (+15-20%) in the field of hydrogen, through two or three step development in a period of 5-10 years (in line with current estimates of actual developments on the market prospects in industry and energy).
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Distribution
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Advancement of distribution in %
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Total amount distributed
1,915,819.23 euro
NOP R&C distributed amount
1,799,689.23 euro
PAC distributed amount
0.00 euro
Amount distributed with other funds 116,130.00 euro
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