2022/11 Podcast "Climate Impacts - Adapted Building #01 An Expert*Inside Discourse"
Moderation: Dr Bernhard Fischer (IBF, velbertfischer@yahoo.de)
Experts: Svenja Binz (BBSR), Holger Wolpensinger (greenUp), Jan-Lukas Hinrichs (Prof. Roll & Pastuch - Management Consultants)
https://open.spotify.com/show/2k9KZa8dkcSoRvHJn73Vbc
At a hydroelectric power plant operated by the energy company Energiedienst in Grenzach-Wylen, the production of green hydrogen has been running successfully for four months. The project produces 500 kilograms of hydrogen per day.
Hydrogen from hydropower: successful start for one of the largest power-to-gas plants in Germany to date. This is reported by the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW). The megawatt plant has been in operation for four months in April 2020 and is functioning reliably. A research electrolyser connected to it is also running successfully. The ZSW is coordinating the project. The operator of the commercial plant is the energy supplier Energiedienst AG.
The power-to-gas plant with an electrical connected load of one megawatt produces renewable hydrogen using electricity from the Rhine hydroelectric power plant in Wyhlen. Since it is not necessary to use the public electricity grid, grid fees and the EEG surcharge do not apply. In addition, high full load hours can be achieved because the hydropower is available practically around the clock. This further improves the economic efficiency and enables extensive operating experience to be gained quickly.
He said the plant has been running regularly since early December 2019 and has had 1,850 hours of operation since then. Previously, it was in trial operation. The monitoring system set up by the ZSW, which measures all essential components and subsystems, functions perfectly. The plant operates fully automatically in 24-hour operation both at full load and in various partial load conditions.
The ZSW monitors operation with the help of remote data transmission to Stuttgart and automated data evaluation. The overall efficiency of electricity to high-purity hydrogen compressed to 300 bar is currently up to 66 percent in relation to the calorific value of the gas. In addition, the researchers are investigating ageing effects and deriving potential improvements from the data.
So far, the plant has filled 62 trailers with hydrogen suitable for fuel cells. Each of these transportable containers holds around 300 kilograms. The plant can produce up to 500 kilograms of hydrogen per day. This is enough for an average daily mileage of more than 1,000 fuel cell cars.
The research project docked to the commercial plant is also progressing positively. In a research plant, the scientists are testing improved electrolysis blocks with a maximum output of 300 kilowatts in parallel operation with the commercial plant. They should further reduce the price of hydrogen. But companies could also test and optimize components there.
Last year, the ZSW and its research partners already achieved an initial success during the test operation of the plant: with new electrode coatings, the researchers achieved 20 percent more power density compared to the electrolysis blocks of the industrial plant section. This means that less volume and material are required for the same output.
Since the investment costs are also based on the construction volume and the electrolysis units account for the largest share of costs in the conversion of renewable electricity at around 40 percent, progress in this area is automatically reflected in the price of hydrogen. For manufacturers of electrolysis plants, development is therefore an important factor for further cost reduction. The long-term goal of the ZSW researchers and Energiedienst engineers is to roughly halve the current production costs of electricity-based hydrogen.
The state of Baden-Württemberg supports the Lighthouse project with a total of 4.5 million euros. In 2019, a project based on this was selected by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology as one of the winners of the first round of the "Reallabore der Energiewende" ideas competition. A total of twelve partners are on board for this major project.
14.4.2020 | Source: ZSW
See also:
http://sdg21.eu/blog/gruener-wasserstoff-aus-wyhlen-behoerden-geben-gruenes-licht
Keywords:
Energy storage, Research, News Blog Baden-Württemberg, Power-to-Gas, Hydrogen
Introduction
On 16 June, the member states of the European Union agreed in the Permanent Representatives Committee to a comprehensive reorganisation of the EU-Renewable Energy Directive (RED). The European target for renewable energies will thus be significantly increased from 32% to 45% in 2030. This means a doubling of the share of renewable energies compared to the level achieved in 2021 of just under 22%.
This is a great success for the expansion of renewables: The planned expansion of renewable energies by 2030 will thus be roughly doubled. For the new targets, the EU more than 100 GW of new wind turbines and solar plants are installed every year. For Germany hott that the greatly increased expansion targets for wind and solar energy in 2022 are underpinned by European requirements and become binding. The higher EU-targets also provide the framework for further measures and targets in the EUFor example, the solar strategy of the EU, which roughly triples the PV-capacity to 600 GW by 2030.
Federal Minister of Economics and Climate Protection Robert Habeck: "I am very pleased that the Council has today backed the agreement of 30 March. The revised directive will massively accelerate the expansion of renewables across the European Union. We are raising the renewables target for 2030 from 32% to 45%. In particular, wind and solar energy will be expanded twice as fast as previously envisaged. The new European rules will trigger a boom of investments in renewables and make them legally binding. For us, this means: our massively increased expansion targets for wind and solar energy last year will now be underpinned by European requirements. This will make us less dependent on energy imports. For me, it is very important that it is not only about targets, but also about measures. That is why I have worked to ensure that many of the accelerated approval procedures for renewable energy projects, which we agreed on in the 2022 energy crisis, are now made permanent. Permits are coming faster, planning is being accelerated. I am therefore pleased that the European Union has the strength to make such a success for renewable energies possible."
The agreement also enables the breakthrough of renewable energies in sectors other than electricity in the future. In the heating sector, in transport and in industry, binding targets for the use of renewable energies now apply in every single country. The switch to renewable energies in all sectors will become mandatory at the European level. In Germany alone, for example, industry will have to use hydrogen from renewable energies on a large scale in 2030, around 20-25 TWh. To ensure that the targets are also translated into action, there is a threat of infringement proceedings if a country does not meet its sectoral targets.
In addition, approval procedures will be accelerated significantly and permanently. Among other things, specific deadlines will be set for this: The approval process for new renewable energy projects in certain areas may no longer take longer than 12 months. It is also important that hydrogen from nuclear power will continue not to be credited to EU-targets takes place - the RED only counts renewable energy towards the targets.
There was also an agreement on 16 June on the market ramp-up of e-fuels in aviation in particular, the so-called "ReFuelEU Aviation". The EU introduces a quota for the market ramp-up of e-fuels ("RFNBOs") in the aviation sector, from 1.2% e-fuels in 2030 to 35% e-fuels in 2050. A total of 70% of aviation fuels must then be renewable in 2050. In aviation, e-fuels are particularly important as direct electrification is only possible to a limited extent.
The agreement now reached on an amendment to the EU-Renewables Directive (RED III) provides that the EU-2030 target for renewable energies increases to a total of 45% of total energy consumption (gross energy consumption). 42.5% are to be provided as binding by the member states as before. In this context, the already existing governance regulation ensures that this target is actually achieved. For example, concrete measures are taken if there are indications that the expansion of renewables is not yet sufficient. In addition, there is an indicative additional target of 2.5 percent. This "top-up" is to be achieved through further voluntary contributions by the member states or through pan-European measures. This doubles the EU their ambition in expanding renewable energies. According to initial projections, the German targets are sufficient to meet the new EU-targets. Now we have to do everything we can to achieve our national expansion targets.
The agreement introduces further binding national sectoral targets for the use of renewable energies. If a member state does not comply with these binding sectoral targets, it faces infringement proceedings. The share of renewable energies must grow by 0.8 percentage points each year between 2021-2025 and by 1.1 percentage points each year thereafter. In addition, there is a new indicative buildings target of 49% renewables of heat demand in buildings. In the transport sector, the already binding target increases from 14% to 29%. A new binding sub-target in transport includes a combination of electricity-based renewable fuels (RFNBOs) and advanced biofuels. This sub-target is 5.5%, of which 1% is to be covered by hydrogen and other electricity-based fuels (RFNBOs).
In the industrial sector, a new mandatory target is set for the use of hydrogen and other electricity-based fuels (RFNBO). 42% of the hydrogen consumed in industry in 2030 must come from renewable energy sources. This corresponds to an increase to about 20 to 25 TWh. By 2035, the share is expected to rise to 60%. Depending on the scenario, this will require around 41 to 83 TWh hydrogen from renewable energy sources is needed, as in parallel industry is using more and more hydrogen. In addition, a new indicative target is that the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption in industry should increase by 1.6% each year.
The regulations for accelerating the approval procedures for the expansion of renewable energies and grids, which are contained in the EU-The provisions of the Emergency Ordinance are largely laid down. For example, renewable energy and grid expansion are in the overriding public interest and time-consuming assessment steps can be dispensed with in the priority areas (no second environmental and species protection assessment at project level if there has already been an assessment at planning level). However, this only applies if appropriate avoidance or compensation measures have been taken, i.e. the level of nature conservation remains high.
In addition, there is a new impetus for cross-border RE projects: each Member State has to start at least one cross-border cooperation project; so that joint cooperation is strengthened. Such cooperation projects include, for example, joint offshore projects. With the recently signed German-Danish offshore project "Bornholm Energy Island", Germany is one of the pioneers in the EU.
On the long-disputed issue of crediting low-carbon fuels (sog. "low-carbon fuels), such as hydrogen based on nuclear power, a compromise was also found. Low carbon fuels are not counted towards the RE targets. Thus, a clear distinction will continue to be made between green H2 and low carbon H2. The German government had strongly advocated this in advance. Member states that have not met their national target contribution to the EU-2030 target, and whose industry uses almost exclusively decarbonised fuels, receive a discount on the hydrogen sub-target in industry and thus somewhat more flexibility.
The simultaneous agreement on ReFuelEU Aviation means that e-fuels will be highly encouraged in aviation, where they are urgently needed, as direct electric propulsion is hardly possible here. This now applies to EU-level what has already been law in Germany since 2021: the German e-fuels quota was so far the world's first obligation to use these fuels. EU-wide, from 2030 onwards, at least 1.2 % e-fuels will be used and by 2032 already 2 %. The ratio rises to 35% by 2050. %. Overall, in the target year 2050, at least 70 % renewable aviation fuels are used, i.e. in addition to e-fuels, also biofuels from residual and waste materials.
Source: BMWK-PM of 16.6.2023
Keywords:
DE-News, Renewable, European Green Deal, Climate protection, SDG 2030, Environmental policy
1:38 min, from 2.2.2018
Project Info: http://sdg21.eu/db/studierenden-wohnheim-woodie
Keywords:
DE-News, Movies, Movies < 4 Min, Wood construction, News Blog Hamburg, Student housing
With funding from the federal support programme "Unternehmen Revier", the Factor X agency of the development company has developed an internet-based tool for the simple calculation of the resource efficiency of one's own building project. The tool has now undergone final testing and will be available online from September.
With the Factor X construction method, the entire life cycle of buildings is considered, resulting in many new opportunities for saving raw materials and thus for climate- and resource-saving construction. Until now, the resource efficiency of buildings has been calculated using a spreadsheet as part of the Factor X Agency's construction consultancy service. This is now to be made even easier by the new online tool, which will be accessible to the public via the Internet. The database-based tool was realised with funding from the federal support programme "Unternehmen Revier".
At the invitation of the Fakor X agency, the almost completed online tool was subjected to a final test. Fifteen testers from science, administration and building practice checked the user guidance and calculated test buildings. The concept was praised by all testers. A few suggestions for improvement are still being incorporated into the programming before the online tool is released in September and will then be available.
Initiator Klaus Dosch, head of the Factor X Agency of the indeland development company, is enthusiastic: "Here we are setting up a tool for climate- and resource-friendly construction that does not yet exist in Europe. Even non-specialists interested in construction are supported by our tool in such a way that they can very easily calculate the resource efficiency of their building project. We have created a link to the building materials database of the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR). For the first time, we are making the construction life cycle understandable for laypeople."
Improving resource efficiency in the construction of housing estates is an essential part of the strategy of the indeland 2030 master plan of the development company indeland GmbH. A number of strategies lead to the achievement of these goals and have been tested in the Faktor X settlements in Eschweiler and Inden. With the development of strategies and projects for sustainable building and living, indeland has long since taken on a lighthouse function far beyond the region. Together with the exhibition already opened in May, the tool is intended to contribute to the illustration and dissemination of the Factor X strategies.
There are five Factor X settlements listed in the sdg21 web database:
www.faktor-x.siedlungen.eu
Keywords:
Building materials / Construction, DE-News, Faktor X / ResScore, Wood construction, Climate protection, NaWaRohs, News Blog NRW, Resource efficiency, Settlements, Tools, Certification & Labels, Life cycle assessment, Ecology
