Feasibility Analysis of MCFC (Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell) – Anaerobic Digester Power Plant

Besides traditional approaches for the valorization of biogas, the possibility of using biogas to run Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC) for the production of combined heat and power (co-generation) is showing interesting results. The aim of this study is to assess the benefits and draw-backs of this energy system and to compare it with traditional biogas applications. Both technical and economical analysis of a real case-study are carried out. The selected case-study is a pig manure treatment plant located in Marsciano, near Perugia, Italy. The performance of MCFC operating on biogas is assessed through experimental activities carried out at the Fuel Cell Group laboratory of the University of Perugia (Italy). Every test in which the MCFC has been run with biogas from an anaerobic digester, showed a highly satisfactory operation of the fuel cell. The economical analysis is based on the net present value (NPV) of an MCFC system and compared to an internal combustion engine system. Costs for the MCFC system are assumed to be equal to 1500 €/kW, 2000€/kW and 3000€/kW and it has been analyzed the difference between them. Different cases with or without economic incentives and with or without co-generation have been studied. Green certificates (i.e. governmental incentives due to the low emissions) are also taken into account for NPV calculation.