Hydrogen Municipality for Green Future

Project

268985

Status

Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS AWARDS : existing completed examples

Project title

Hydrogen Municipality for Green Future

Full project title

Description

Hydrogen is the key to our green future in unity with nature for a good quality of life and sound health. The Municipality of Belene has piloted a hydrogen solution for the transition period - we have integrated an electrolyser system that produces hydrogen fuel on-site and adds it to the heating system of our administrative building, thereby reducing the used conventional fuel by around 40% and harmful emission, CO2 in particular by 30%. Expansion to 100% H2 heating powered by solar is planned.

Where was your project implemented in the EU?

When was your project implemented?

Has your project benefited from EU programmes or funds?

Which programme(s) or fund(s)? Provide the name of the programme(s)/fund(s), the strand/action line as relevant and the year.

Please provide a summary of your project

The project is a first step pilot for the integration of hydrogen for heating in public and residential buildings. The aim is to achieve high energy efficiency and reduce harmful emissions, CO2 in particular, dramatically. The essence of the project is the integration of an electrolyser system to the heating system of the administrative building of the municipality. The integrated electrolyser system produces hydrogen fuel on-site and adds it to the heating system of the administrative building, thereby reducing the amount of the used conventional fuel (heating oil/diesel) by around 40% and harmful emission, CO2 in particular, by 30%. The electrolyser system controls the process through feedback-based management electronics and software, whereby needed quantities of the hydrogen fuel are produced to achieve a pre-set temperature and/or regime of operation of the heating system. This pilot by the Municipality of Belene has showcased a hydrogen solution for buildings for the transition period to zero emissions. Expansion to 100% H2 heating powered by solar is planned, whereby solar roof panels will be added to power the electrolyser and for the electricity consumption of the building. The hydrogen not used immediately upon production will be stored and then used for electricity generation when solar power is not enough for the electricity needs of the building, e.g. during the night or in the winter season. In this case the boiler heating system will be upgraded to work on 100% hydrogen and the produced quantities of oxygen will be compressed and stored for use by the local hospital.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability and how these have been met

The key sustainability objectives of the project are [1] to reduce the amount of used conventional fuel; [2] to reduce the amount of harmful emissions; [3] to provide an example for economically sound solution for the transition period with a very short period for return on investment; [4] to realise a project as a pilot first step that can be upgraded and expanded to a fully energy independent zero-emissions building; [5] to implement a project that is easily replicable in other buildings, as well as in other contexts, i.e. heat for the industry and local businesses. All 5 sustainability objectives contribute to a better living environment for our citizens, awareness-raising about the benefits that innovation and new technologies can bring to our daily lives. The project is easily replicable to other public and private buildings and has been a true inspiration for the residents of Belene. The launch of the system received coverage both in local and national media and numerous inquiries and requests for transfer of best practices by other municipalities and local authorities have been received. We believe that this exemplary and innovative project can truly open a new horizon of sustainability measures, enabled by hydrogen technologies, for our town, region, and nationally.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience beyond functionality and how these have been met

Apart from the functionality, economic, and environmental advantages of the project, it has contributed to a better environment and air quality on the one hand, on the other - to the awareness on the side of the citizens of Belene about environmental and sustainability issues. It has increased their appreciation of innovative technologies that can contribute to a more healthy and sustainable future for themselves, their families, and their children. Citizens and guests that have come to view the integrated electrolyser system were always surprised by the physical dimensions and simplistic look of the otherwise complex technology for production of a fuel of such high energy efficiency. Seeing how the system functions has contributed to more enchantment with new technologies, especially for the children.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion and how these have been met

The [1] financial accessibility (the total project budget amounts to 35000 euro), the [2] fast return on investment through conventional fuel savings, the [3] very straightforward replicability of the engineering plan in other buildings and transferability to other contexts (industry, residential, etc.), as well as the [4] planned upscale roadmap for the pilot from the very inception of its development have all made this project very inclusive. Despite the innovative character of the technology that one would expect to make the project more difficult to comprehend by the local community, the interest and support on the part of the citizens, the business, the media, and other local stakeholders have been high from the very first stages of planning of the pilot to its launch and ever since. Public interest and demand for expansion of the use of hydrogen technology for clean heat and energy solutions have been on the rise because of the success of this pilot, which is especially vital for a municipality as Belene, where nuclear energy has been the buzz word for a seizable period of time. 

Please give information on the results/impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for

The pilot project has integrated an electrolyser system to the heating system of a building, whereby reduction in conventional fuel used by 40% has been achieved, as well as around 30% reduction in harmful emissions (CO2). This electrolyser integration shows in practice retrofitting of an existing heating system to make it much more energy efficient at a price that is affordable even for small municipalities. This technological solution has a very tangible contribution to climate change mitigation with the considerable reduction in harmful emissions, especially when it comes to heating systems on very "dirty" fossil fuels, such as heating oil (diesel). The project is also very valuable for the transition period, when efforts and funding will be directed towards larger projects for hydrogen production capacity building. During this transition period, such projects as our pilot will bring the benefits of hydrogen use closer to the average citizens, raise awareness, trust and support towards hydrogen technologies, and build demand for hydrogen solutions by potential users of the technology.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the project and civil society have been involved in the project and what has been the impact of this involvement on the project

Information and awareness raising among citizens have been a strong component of the project. The Municipality of Belene strongly believes that such innovative technologies that have clear contributions to climate change mitigation, citizens' quality of life, and even effect savings for the public budget after the return-on-investment period has elapsed, can mobilise citizens in support of sustainability and nature-friendly solutions. The green future of the municipality of Belene is only possible with the support and active engagement of our citizens. Therefore the premises of the project, where the system is located are open to visitors on request. Local media have been kept well informed to satisfy the public interest in the development of the project. Prior to upgrading and upscaling the project, town-hall meetings will be held to fine-tune our understanding of the expectations and needs of our citizens that can be addressed through the follow-up actions to this pilot.

Please highlight the innovative character of the project

This pilot project is extremely innovative. It integrates a high efficiency alkaline electrolyser that works on pulse electrolysis, with negligible use of grid electricity (monthly expenses for grid electricity consumed by the electrolyser system is below 100 BGN/50 euro), which will be substituted by solar from roof panels at the next stage of upgrading the pilot. The system is very compact and can be easily integrated within the respective space - with its simplistic, yet futuristic outlook, the system attracts attention. It does not need any additional external cooling or purification system for the water used by the electrolyser. This pilot is an astonishing example of how a simple heating system on "dirty" fossil fuel can be retrofitted with a cutting edge technology to make it most energy efficient and least harmful to the environment at a price that is affordable, i.e. the project can be implemented now and our citizens can reap the benefits of it for the environment and their health now, instead of waiting for the overall price of clean hydrogen to reach prices that would make it accessible to municipalities as ours.

Please explain how the project led to results or learnings which could be transferred to other interested parties

The pilot project in the administrative building of the Municipality of Belene is easily replicable to other buildings, both public and residential, and transferable to other sectors, including the industry, the business, and the energy. The same roadmap of technology integration can be used with only minor fine-tuning of the technology depending on the boiler (heating) system of the respective building or (production) process. The integrated electrolyser system is modular, which allows for easy upscale, i.e. increase in the amount of produced hydrogen fuel to correspond to the needs of the respective heating system capacity. Apart from the practical roadmap for electrolyser integration to combustion-reliant processes, which the project itself constitutes, it also provides an accessible physical example of the working technology that interested potential users can see and touch. Therefore, we believe, the project has substantial contribution to awareness-raising, demand- and trust-building in sustainable hydrogen solutions for climate mitigation by decreasing the use of fossil fuels.

Is an evaluation report or any relevant independent evaluation source available?

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that the proposed project has not been proposed for the Awards more than once under the same category and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.