CHEOP-CC phase 2

CHEOP-CC is a fuel cell-based system for offshore power generation with integrated CO₂ capture. The system is modular and scalable, making it attractive for other markets such as marine and agriculture. The system is about the same size and weight as a gas turbine based system, but with almost twice the efficiency and with integrated capture of CO₂ in liquid form ready for storage or use. The project builds on the results of projects 245489- Clean, Highly Efficient Offshore Power (CHEOP) (Petromax2) and 616060- Clean, Highly Efficient Offshore Power with CO₂ Capture (CHEOP-CC) Development of a 3.2 MW Demonstrator – PHASE 1 (CLIMIT). A high temperature fuel cell module design was developed in CHEOP and a 10 kW stack box was developed and tested as a building block in CHEOP-CC. In CHEOP-CC Phase 1, studies, calculations and tests were carried out on the other elements of a CHEOP-CC system, as well as cost calculations for demonstration and full-scale plants. The project partners in phase 2 were Alma Clean Power, Odfjell SE, Wärtsilä and AkerBP.

This project has developed a 100kW solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system integrated in a container. The system has been developed according to maritime and offshore requirements and has been prepared for testing both in onshore test infrastructure and on board an Odfjell chemical tanker. In addition, the container was built and tested with integrated safety systems and control and electronic equipment. A 185kW maritime PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cell module supplied by Powercell was also purchased and commissioned for use with hydrogen, which can potentially be split and separated from natural gas. A separate combined reformer/burner has been designed and built for this purpose and a hydrogen separator has been purchased from Hydrogen Mem-Tech.

The project also included preliminary design work for the installation of a pre-commercial MW-class unit as an auxiliary engine on board a chemical tanker operated by Odfjell. Wärtsilä has also carried out a concept study for the use of the technology in offshore vessels and CO₂ transport vessels.

Due to increased costs, supply chain and design changes and changing market conditions, the project was terminated before final testing of the SOFC plant. Nevertheless, the project provided valuable lessons for the further development and commercialisation of the technology. Among other things, a patent application was prepared and filed for an SOFC plant with integrated carbon capture, with a 100% capture rate, a compact design and the potential for up to 70% electrical efficiency.