About the project
Currently, around 80% of cogeneration plants use natural gas and fossil fuels as their primary source. The EU-funded SmartCHP project will develop a novel, flexible small-scale cogeneration unit to produce heat and electricity from sustainable biomass. This will help boost the use of renewables in the electricity and heating and cooling sectors, contributing to the 2030 climate and energy targets.
The SmartCHP system will provide a small-scale solution suitable for hospitals, universities, municipal buildings and countless industrial users that would like to have an efficient alternative to fossil sources.
More sustainable biomass
SmartCHP runs on fast pyrolysis bio-oil coming from the conversion of agroforestry residues and organic waste, diversifying the supply of bioenergy for combined heat and power units. All pyrolysis bio-oils comply with the sustainability criteria concerning biodiversity, emissions and low indirect land-use change introduced by the new Renewable Energy Directive.
More efficiency
SmartCHP uses a modified diesel engine, which has more than 40% electrical efficiency, and has an overall energy efficiency of at least 85%. Due to its extraordinary high flexibility, it is also possible to rapidly adjust the fuel load and produce more electricity or more heat according to changes in demand.
(Even) more renewables
Thanks to its flexibility, SmartCHP is ideally suited to use in combination with fluctuating renewables. When the energy provided by wind and sun is unavailable, the SmartCHP system is automatically activated, securing a continuous energy supply from renewables.
Less greenhouse gas emissions
The use of SmartCHP for heating and electricity can save between 85 and 95% greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. This will also be ensured by the innovative flue gas cleaning system that will be developed and integrated into the SmartCHP system.
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Our Partners
SmartCHP brings together 10 partners, including European industrial companies, universities and innovation experts with a balanced mix of expertise. The project is coordinated by BTG Biomass Technology Group.