VoltaChem energized for further growth: results & upcoming projects

08-03-2017

Since 2015 VoltaChem has grown into a Shared Innovation Program consisting of more than 15 running projects, having a total size of around 4 million euro per year, and involving a large industrial and academic partner network. With this, a good start has been made to implement the industrial electrification roadmap that has been defined together with stakeholders from chemical, electricity and equipment sectors. Energized by this success, VoltaChem will further grow and enhance its impact in 2017 by developing regional activities in the large industrial clusters and by initiating international collaborations in North Western Europe focusing on conversion of power to fuels, plastics and fertilizers. Our aim: accelerating implementation of industrial electrification technologies to further support the industry to contribute to the energy transition and international climate goals.

Roadmap: combining short-term development with visionary long-term research

In the VoltaChem roadmap short-term industrial development activities in heat, hydrogen and specialties are combined with long-term visionary research on conversion of power to fuels, plastics and fertilizers. Short-term activities will deliver the results, learnings and technologies that are needed for implementation of the long-term roadmap. By addressing these topics in parallel, synergy can be achieved both in the R&D and in the business network. “Both companies and governments value this synergy, as it leads to better understanding and to acceleration in the implementation of technologies and new business models”, states Martijn de Graaff, program and business development manager of VoltaChem.

VoltaChem results

In the last two years multiple projects were initiated together with industrial and academic partners. These projects have led to in-depth understanding of key technical aspects of electrification technologies, mainly related to heat and electrochemical technology, and to the associated business cases that facilitate implementation. Furthermore state-of-the-art research infrastructure has been build up and new researchers have been attracted for applied research together with companies and academia. Some results:

1. Power-2-Heat: Several technical and economic feasibility studies have been carried out for using thermo-acoustic heat pumps to upgrade residual industrial heat using excess electricity as a power source, showing a clear business potential for using this technology on short term. Furthermore, new technologies were assessed to increase the heats to higher temperatures as needed in the industry.
2. Power-2-Hydrogen: A lifetime testing facility of single cell electrolysers has been developed, including stress-testing protocols to understand degradation, facilitating partners to assess the business potential of specific commercial and pre-commercial electrolysers for their application. Furthermore, the business potential of hydrogen as feedstock was assessed in the Power-2-Ammonia and Power-2-Gas-2-Refinery projects.
3. Power-2-Specialties: Two proof-of-concepts have been developed to show the potential of electrochemistry as a platform electrification technology for high-value chemical compounds. The FDCA-showcase provided a clear business case showing production of pure FDCA using biobased HMF as a feedstock and electricity as energy source based on product value. For hydrogen peroxide it was shown that decentral production will benefit from direct electrochemical conversion.
4. Power-2-Commodities: It was shown that in the long run the conversion of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and biobased feedstock to fuels, plastic intermediates and fertilizers will have the largest business and societal impact. In this research line the future business potential and technical challenges of using electricity as feedstock and power source to produce commodity chemicals were investigated.
5. Community: Multiple electrification options and their business value for the chemical and electricity sectors on short- and long-term have been identified in cooperation with the VoltaChem Community and within the E-Match project. Furthermore a marginal cost and merit order model has been developed that will be used in all future research and can be applied for customers that need further insight.

 “This is just the beginning", Martijn de Graaff enthusiastically adds. "These technologies and associated business cases will be further developed with partners and members in 2017. Also new projects will be initiated that fit the scope of the roadmap and the needs of the members and partners. We really feel that there is enthusiasm in the market and are very keen on setting up new projects together with public and private stakeholders.”

New VoltaChem projects

Next to the ongoing developments, several new projects have been initiated, especially related to the Power-2-Commodities program-line. “We will start three collaborative projects in 2017 related to electrochemical CO2 utilization, converting the greenhouse gas CO2 into valuable products. These projects are focusing on different output products at different time horizons, but will all work on improving the business-case for CO2 conversion using renewable electricity by further developing electrochemical technology from the lab into the field.” The products that are addressed are formic acid, carbon monoxide and ethylene, all commodity chemicals that are currently being produced in the industry from fossil feedstock. These products can be considered key intermediates that are used for producing plastics, but also fuels. “If these chemicals can be competitively made from CO2 and renewable electricity, then for sure the chemical industry will have a huge impact on fossil decarbonization!”

But also the other program-lines will start new activities. The Power-2-Heat program-line will start new scouting projects in the field of alternative technologies and combined power-2-heat/heat-storage. The Power-2-Hydrogen program-line will start several new projects amongst which are projects in the field of downstream conversion to DME and Ammonia, use of hydrogen in the steel industry and use of hydrogen as storage for intermittent electricity. And the Power-2-Specialties program-line will start developing paired electrosynthesis technology to enhance the business case for electrochemical conversions towards high-value products by producing twice the amount of product per unit of electricity.

And last but not least, the VoltaChem Community will further work on assessing short- and long-term business cases, scouting the outside world for upcoming technologies and assessing the system integration and non-technical aspects of industrial electrification. “We welcome any company or organization that wants to know how industrial electrification can positively impact their business on short- and long-term. For a small fee, companies can participate in the VoltaChem community, and if more detail and influence on the scope is needed companies can decide to join specific projects or program-lines.”

PS: take a look at our current calls for participation.

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