Gas Renewable Eco Energy Nature Stove

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Households use energy for various purposes: space and water heating, space cooling, cooking, lighting, use of electrical appliances, with heating making up for the most. Residential heating systems are mainly based on non-renewable sources, as renewables account for only 19.5% of the total. The energy and climate legislative framework of the EU has set the target of 32% for renewables in total gross final energy consumption by 2030 and is pushing for an increased use of biomass for energy purposes, including domestic heating, where solid biomass is a pivotal fuel. Indeed, biomass for energy (bioenergy) is the main source of renewable energy in the EU, with a share of almost 60%. Unfortunately, biomass burning in domestic appliances is known to release high quantities of air pollutants. Data from the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) show that PM2.5 emissions of biomass used for energy purposes in buildings have increased by more than 60% since 1990.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the LIFE GREEN-STOVE project was to produce an innovative pellet stove that could significantly reduce pollutant emissions and optimise the use of biomass as an alternative to fossil fuels for residential heating, ensuring a 92% efficiency and clean combustion. 

 

In particular, the project aimed to:

• demonstrate and validate a new biomass downdraft gasification system, able to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), organic gas compounds (OGCs), and particulate matter (PM) by integrating a two-stage combustion process. In the first stage, a partial oxidation process was initiated by a hot mixture of water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and low concentration of oxygen to produce a gas (syngas) with medium-low calorific value, consisting of CO, hydrogen (H₂), methane (CH₄), CO₂ and heat. The second stage was based on syngas combustion, where hot air directly generates the flame without ignition;
• integrate into the system innovative connectivity services, including big data analysis, to achieve a smart and improved interaction with the pellet stove as well as predictive maintenance and energy saving through Artificial Intelligence;
• upscale the production process to TRL 9, demonstrating its replicability and achieving an efficient system in terms of manufacturing, installation, and maintenance;
• ensure maximum impact and business opportunities associated with the new approach, through a dedicated exploitation strategy and business plan.

LIFE GREEN-STOVE contributed to the implementation of the following EU environmental policies and legislation: EU Clean Air Policy Package, by reducing emissions from the household sector and risks for human health and the environment;

-  EU Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, by focusing on air quality improvement in areas with high use of solid fuels like biomass for domestic heating;

- European Green Deal and its overarching objectives of a “climate neutral" Europe and a “pollution-free environment”;

- Eco-design regulation for domestic biomass appliance (EU Regulation 2015/1185), entered into force on the 1st of January 2022 for domestic biomass appliances;

- Energy Strategy for Europe and European Climate Change Programme, supporting the development of a new high efficiency generator of thermal energy from alternative sources (biomass).

The project also contributed to achieving 6 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13) and, at national level, the targets set in Italian DL 186/2017 Regulation governing the requirements, procedures and competences for the issue of a certification of heat generators powered by solid biomass fuels. 

RESULTS

The project achieved the following results:

• development of an innovative pellet stove at TRL 9, based on a two-stage combustion process and control technologies, which has been CE certified;
• development and implementation of the cloud platform Fumis Connected;achievement of all the efficiency and emissions reduction targets:
  • Efficiency: 90.7%;
  • CO: 29 mg/Nm3;
  • NOx: 77 mg/Nm3;
  • PM: 9 mg/Nm3;
  • VOC: 1 mg/Nm3.

The Green Stove reduced the cumulative value of total emissions (CO, NOx, VOC, PM) by 80%, standing at a total of 116 mg/Nm³ compared to the 580 mg/Nm³ established by the actual Ecodesign regulation. Comparing the values with the “5 Stars Clean Air” decree, the reduction is -69%, while with “4 Stars Clean Air” (project benchmark) is -75%.

 

The Green Stove reduced the total residual of particulate matter (PM and VOC) from 80 mg/Nm³ established by Ecodesign to a value of 10 mg/Nm³. The reduction of particulate classes is therefore -87.5%. Compared with the “5 Stars Clean Air”, the reduction is -60% while with the “4 Stars Clean Air” decree (project benchmark) it is -81,2%.

 

The Green Stove was also characterised by an improved efficiency compared to the reference stoves: the combustion yield went from 84% for the ECODESIGN stoves, 87% for the 4 Stars and 88% for the 5 Stars stoves, to 90.7% for the new LIFE Green Stove.

 

3 patents for intellectual properties of the main relevant innovative technologies applied in the Green Stove have been secured.