EUBCE 2026 - Fatemeh RAJAEE - Flexible Power-and-Biomass-to-X (PBtX) System Integrating Reversible Solid Oxide Cells for Market-Responsive Methanol and Power Production

Flexible Power-and-Biomass-to-X (PBtX) System Integrating Reversible Solid Oxide Cells for Market-Responsive Methanol and Power Production

Short Introductive summary

Bio-methanol and electro-methanol are promising renewable fuels for decarbonizing transport and industry, yet limited biomass availability necessitates coupling with renewable electricity in flexible Power-and-Biomass-to-X (PBtX) systems. This study proposes a novel integrated gasification-solid oxide cell (IGSOC) concept capable of dynamically switching between methanol synthesis and power generation in response to market signals. The process integrates a 100 MWLHV circulating fluidized-bed gasifier, a reversible solid oxide cell (rSOC) stack operating alternately as electrolyzer (SOEC) and fuel cell (SOFC), and downstream methanol synthesis with advanced heat recovery. In methanol mode, the rSOC co-electrolyzes steam and CO2 from cleaned syngas to produce H2- and CO-enriched feedstock, achieving 25.3 t/h methanol production at 91 % carbon and 68.8 % energy efficiency. In power mode, the same stack generates 44 MWe net electricity with 49.7 % efficiency while still producing around1 t/h methanol. Techno-economic optimization across the DK1 (Denmark), SE1 (Sweden), and FI (Finland) electricity zones indicates break-even methanol prices of 496–661 €/t under 2024 market conditions.

F. Rajaee, LUT University, Lappeenranta, FINLAND
M. Romano, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, ITALY
J. Ritvanen, LUT University, Lappeenranta, FINLAND