Direct Electrochemical Conversion of Biomass to Electricity
Likewise renewable energies as wind and solar energy, biomass and especially waste biomass will contribute significantly to future’s energy system. Especially wood waste, but also other residuals such as straw are of relatively high energy density, readily available and easy to transport. However, in the stationary power sector forming the backbone of the energy system, these energy carriers are not used efficiently in combustion processes. To date, biomass can be converted into electricity and heat in different ways. Either by mixing the biomass with coal followed by combustion in a conventional power plant or by thermal gasification of the biomass followed by combustion of the syngas in a gas turbine. Compared to these caloric processes, the electrochemical oxidation of biomass is a very efficient route to convert the chemical energy stored in the biomass into electricity, which is the idea behind this project (DiChemBioElectric). We propose a Direct Biomass Electrochemical Converter (DBEC) as a new technology to convert biomass directly into heat and electricity, which is independent from intermittent sources and thus highly suitable to form the backbone of the future energy system (Fig. 1). The technology is unique in terms of economy (theoretically 100% efficiency in carbon oxidation; almost pure CO2 is captured without need for separation and further processing, as fuel oxidant are separated by dense ceramic membrane), environment (pure CO2 emission makes sequestration easy resulting is negative CO2 balance and no NOx formation) and societal safety (no CO2, no NOx).
Likewise renewable energies as wind and solar energy, biomass and especially waste biomass will contribute significantly to future’s energy system. Especially wood waste, but also other residuals such as straw are of relatively high energy density, readily available and easy to transport. However, in the stationary power sector forming the backbone of the energy system, these energy carriers are not used efficiently in combustion processes. To date, biomass can be converted into electricity and heat in different ways. Either by mixing the biomass with coal followed by combustion in a conventional power plant or by thermal gasification of the biomass followed by combustion of the syngas in a gas turbine. Compared to these caloric processes, the electrochemical oxidation of biomass is a very efficient route to convert the chemical energy stored in the biomass into electricity, which is the idea behind this project (DiChemBioElectric). We propose a Direct Biomass Electrochemical Converter (DBEC) as a new technology to convert biomass directly into heat and electricity, which is independent from intermittent sources and thus highly suitable to form the backbone of the future energy system (Fig. 1). The technology is unique in terms of economy (theoretically 100% efficiency in carbon oxidation; almost pure CO2 is captured without need for separation and further processing, as fuel oxidant are separated by dense ceramic membrane), environment (pure CO2 emission makes sequestration easy resulting is negative CO2 balance and no NOx formation) and societal safety (no CO2, no NOx).