RFAs: Demonstration of Stationary Fuel Cells in Renewable Energy Communities

Scope

• In the context of the scope of renewable energy communities, proposals are expected to demonstrate an integrated renewable energy system applying stationary fuel cells, possibly in combination with other hydrogen technologies, to supply reliable and efficient energy in at least one renewable energy community. In the context of this topic a renewable energy community is expected to have the characteristics defined in Article 2(16) of the Recast Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001 “Renewable Energy Community” even if not legally established as a legal entity.
• Advantages that stationary fuel cells can bring to renewable energy communities are manyfold. Besides presenting high electrical efficiencies, stationary fuel cells can provide additional heat that can be valorised for utilisation by local industries and small businesses. They can moreover play a role in providing ancillary services to the grid, thus constituting a source of economic benefits for energy communities. They can in fact provide demand response and dispatchable power generation, and be furthermore reliably employed for backup, standby, and peak shaving applications. Last but not least, they can boost the utilisation of local resources (e.g. biomass, waste streams, etc.) and can furthermore reduce the curtailment of renewable energy.
• The integrated system should address multiple energy vectors such as hydrogen, electricity, and heat and/or cooling. To this end, installations may include technologies for hydrogen handling and storage, while they should involve a fuel cell-based power supply unit.
• The renewable fuel to be used in the power supply unit (renewable hydrogen and/or other renewable hydrogen-rich fuels) may either be produced on-site or be delivered at the site. As a fuel, renewable hydrogen or other types of renewable fuels such as hydrogen-rich fuels, synthetic fuels or bio-fuels may be used.
• The demonstration campaign should include the transportation of all system components at the site, their installation, and their subsequent testing for at least 3000 hours of cumulative operation in a renewable energy community (covering at least 2 different seasons).

Expected Outcome

• Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
  • Support the industrialisation of European Fuel Cell technology;
  • Showcase combined heat and power generation based on hydrogen technologies in real life applications;
  • Decentralised control of microgrids supported by real-time optimisation, which increases grid reliability and resilience, and allows for autonomous operation during disturbances;
  • Contribute to demand-side strategies, which can reduce energy bills and provide overall benefits to the energy system such as stability and less emissions;
  • Provide ancillary services to the overall energy system such as frequency control and power reliability;
  • Empower citizens and put them at the centre of the clean energy transition, which improves lives and supports energy and climate policies.

For more information, visit European Commission.