The German company Graforce, which has developed a methane gas electrolysis technology with zero polluting emissions, has partnered with Kawasaki to market cogeneration solutions based on this procedure.
“By the end of the year, we intend to present packages of solutions. The electrolyser is already operational in Germany. Thus, we have solved the problem of decarbonization, today for tomorrow,” said Cristian Athanasovici, Business Development Manager, Kawasaki Europe, during the event “Energy efficiency for energy transition” organized in Constanța by Energynomics together with the Romanian Fund for Efficiency Energy – FREE and the Directorate for Energy Efficiency within the Ministry of Energy.
To produce one kilogram of hydrogen through the methane electrolysis process, 10 kWh of energy generated by solar or wind panels and 4 kilograms of methane are needed. There is no need for water, which “is an endangered resource”.
According to Athanasovici, in this process the methane is not burned, and the electrolysis results in solid carbon that can be used in various industries. “So, zero kilograms of CO2”, added Athanasovici.
Kawasaki has adopted a roadmap for hydrogen with solutions for distributed power generation. In view of the targeted global decarbonization, as many units of energy generation from renewable sources are needed. To achieve this goal, however, accumulators are needed in the form of storage batteries for electricity or heat accumulators for thermal energy to come into operation when renewable energy is unavailable.
DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATION OF CRISTIAN ATHANASOVICI
“We are working for a much cleaner planet than it is today, so we have adapted all the solutions to reduce polluting emissions even if we use natural gas,” he added.
Kawasaki established its office in Bucharest in 2018 and currently has 67 employees. The office is responsible for sales and promotion activities in South-Eastern Europe. The company bases its business in the energy sector on three pillars, namely decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization.
The conference in Constanța was the third of a series of 5 scheduled by the Energynomics communication platform, the Romanian Fund for Energy Efficiency – FREE and the Directorate for Energy Efficiency within the Ministry of Energy. The project is financed by Norwegian Grants 2014-2021. The next conferences are scheduled in Iași, on October 19 and 20, and in Bucharest, on November 16 and 17.