Biogas2PEM-FC is an industrial research project that aims to develop the technologies that compose a novel and integrated solution for biogas valorisation through proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEM), such a solution will provide a modular, reliable, cost-effective and efficient combined heat & power (CHP) system suitable for a distributed, on-site power generation from agricultural wastes (specifically, from olive mill waste). To that end, project objectives are defined next:
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Research for the increase of biogas production yield, using physic-chemical and biological pre-treatment technologies at laboratory scale for enhancing anaerobic digestion effectiveness. After optimization of pre-treatment technologies, different inoculates and co-substrates will be investigated and used in laboratory experiments for maximization of biogas production: high methane and hydrogen content with minimum CO2 and CO production ratio.
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Development and optimization of current biogas reforming technologies: new catalysts for an efficient conversion of biogas to hydrogen.
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Research for the integration of PEM technologies using hydrogen produced from biogas.
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Construction and field tests of a pilot plant located in a selected olive oil mill exploitation.
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Techno-economic and environmental evaluation of power generation using integrated Biogas2PEM-FC technology.
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Dissemination of Biogas2PEM-FC project results for the feasibility demonstration of low cost biogas reforming and power generation.
