Project “Fuel cell power plant”
Fuel cell use in combined heat and power plants. (CHP)
A fuel cell-based power plant has the advantage to produce electric energy directly from the energy carrier hydrogen – with an efficiency of more then 50% and to simultaneously use the heat generated in the process for district heating systems. Presently, large amounts of hydrogen originating from PVC production processes (chlor-alkali electrolysis) at the location in Hürth Knapsack are only used in part.
This hydrogen shows a high degree of purity and is of sufficient quality for fuel cell use. Within the project context it is planned to supply fuel cells qualified for stationary applications. The project target is clearly defined: development of a 50 kWel pilot power plant with additional thermal coupling.
When the project is successfully finished, the project initiators plan to develop and operate a fuel cell-based 1 MW(el) combined heat and power plant and / or several local applications (i.e. block heat and power plants) in the Cologne region.
Project partners: public utilities Stadtwerke Hürth and Stadtwerke Brühl, Infraserv Knapsack, IGH2 as project coordinator and the German Aerospace Center DLR.
