Novel energy saving technologies evaluation tool

The main objective of EMINENT project (Early Market Introduction of New ENergy Technologies) launched by EC DG TREN is to identify and accelerate introduction and implementation of leading edge European energy and environmental technology into the market place in Europe and worldwide. A software tool and an integrated database on new technologies and sectoral energy supplies and demands were developed and implemented. They are capable to analyse the potential impact of new, yet underdeveloped energy technologies in different sectors of society over different countries. The case study analysis using the developed software tool was carried out. It proves that third generation solar cells have highest efficiency and lowest costs. Biological base solar cells are the best in terms of slimness and environmental friendliness. Several biomass processing technologies show high performance and wide range of applications. Geothermal energy applications using compact and enhanced heat exchangers are another innovative and promising field. Power recovery technology in Fluid Catalytic Cracking being efficient in converting waste heat into electricity also showed very short payback period which makes it attractive to the industry. An important aspect of EMINENT is a range of dissemination activities. They include development of Technology Assessment Reports, organisation of thematic workshops two of which have been already carried out and proved to be very successful, an interactive internet site and other kinds of technology transfer. The project is described in more details on project website www.eminentproject.com. This website also provides contacts to coordinators and partners as well as previously published papers and presentations. INTRODUCTION EMINENT (Early Market Introduction of New ENergy Technologies) project was launched by EC DG TREN in 2003. The main objective of the project is to identify and accelerate introduction and implementation of leading edge European energy and environmental technology into the market place in Europe and worldwide. By the end of its second year the project has achieved substantial results in its key areas and is now moving to its final stage. The first version of the software tool was developed and implemented, which is capable to analyse the potential impact of new, yet underdeveloped energy technologies (early stage technologies, ESTs) in different sectors of society over different countries. The current work is focused on development of an advanced internet based version to enable users to continuously exchange and work with the most recent data. Along with the EMINENT tool an extensive database has been developed which serves for storing the data both on new technologies and sectoral energy supplies and demands. The EMINENT tool and the database have been applied to estimate the potential and the prospects of various technologies which are just being developed or have been developed recently. In total twenty case studies were carried out involving different countries, regions. Besides being a good exercise for testing the EMINENT tool, those case studies provided good analytical information on the technologies described. The case studies covered the research in the following areas: • First to third generations of solar cells including crystalline silicon solar cells, thin film solar cells and biological base solar cells used in the range of applications from households to processing industry in the UK. Fig. 1. The principle of EMINENT tool performance • Concentrated acid hydrolysis using biomass fermentation; • Biomass gasification methanol synthesis system; • Plate fin, printed circuit and corrugated tube heat exchangers in geothermal applications; • FCC Power Recovery Unit in Refinery. The results of the case studies include quantified performance data, resources and demand for the relevant chains, emissions, costs and savings. The analysis of ten technologies in these case studies clearly showed the benefits and areas of application. The case study analysis proves that third generation solar cells have highest efficiency and lowest costs. Biological base solar cells are the best in terms of slimness and environmental friendliness. Several biomass processing technologies show high performance and wide range of applications. Geothermal energy applications using compact and enhanced heat exchangers are another innovative and promising field. Power recovery technology in FCC being efficient in converting waste heat into electricity also showed very short payback period which makes it attractive to the industry. Efficient utilisation of energy by the thermal treatment of wastes processes also seems to be a very promising approach (Bebar et al., 2002). Another important aspect of EMINENT project is a range of dissemination activities which include development of Technology Assessment Reports, organisation of thematic workshops two of which have been already carried out and proved to be very successful, an interactive internet site and other kinds of technology transfer. The results of EST assessments produced using the EMINENT tool and the data stored in the EMINENT database is be used for generating consultations for the European Commission on the potential of application of the EST in different countries, covering technology, knowledge, education, market aspects, economics, incentives and partnership arrangements. This is the logical final stage of the project and the focal point is currently being shifted to this activity. EMINENT SOFTWARE TOOL A software tool has been developed in the framework of EMINENT project. The tool major tasks are to design possible energy supply chains and to evaluate each of them based on weighing factors given by the user. The EMINENT software tool was described in details by Jansen et al (2004). The principle of its performance is shown in Fig. 1 and one of its screens – General Technology Data – in Fig.2. The software tool consists of several parts. The resource manager describes details of resources available in the country, modifies and enters the new data, selects the data for technology assessment. Fig. 2. General Technology Data Screen Biomass/waste