PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Households use energy for various purposes: space and water heating, space cooling, cooking, lighting, and electrical appliances, with heating being the main use. Residential heating 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 is to produce an innovative pellet stove that can 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 aims 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 is 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 is 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.
The project supports the 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; the European Green Deal and its overarching objectives of a “climate neutral" Europe and a “pollution-free environment”. The project contributes to achieving six of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13) and, at national level, the 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
Expected results:
The project will produce 35 green stoves that will undergo endurance and field tests, 25 of which will be installed in houses in Italy and Belgium. The following quantitative pollutant-reduction and business-related results are expected:
- Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions reduced by 100 mg/m3 by project end (-60% with respect with state-of-the-art pellet stoves);
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 60 mg/m3 (-60%);
- Organic Gas Compounds (OGCs) 5 mg/m3 (-75%);
- PM 5 mg/m3 (-75%);
- Registration of at least 100 pre-orders of the new pellet stove;
- Sale of 22 500 Green Stove systems within five years after project end; and
- Cumulative revenues generated of about €58 million in the first five years of commercialisation, with a cumulative gross profit of about €21 million and a return on investment (ROI) of 5.15.
