EnergyDecentral, the international trade fair for decentralized energy supply, has established itself as the most prominent platform for the introduction of innovations. This innovation leadership is underlined by the EnergyDecentral Innovation Award, which is handed to the winners at the show every two years.
A neutral expert committee convened by DLG (German Agricultural Society) has determined the Innovation Award winners from 80 registered and approved innovations according to stringent criteria. One gold and one silver medal have been awarded.
The winner of the Innovation Award EnergyDecentral 2021 in gold is:
2G Hydrogen CHP Technology (agenitor H2)
2G Energy AG
Energy storage will play a key role in the energy system of the future because the amount of sun and wind available for producing electricity fluctuates. The generation of hydrogen represents an important storage medium in this process. The hydrogen can be transformed back into other forms of energy after a period of time without producing further emissions.
With the agenitor H2, 2G has succeeded for the first time in enabling cogeneration to be used to generate electricity and heat from hydrogen and therefore takes us a significant step closer to the objective of a CO2-neutral energy supply. This new development is based on a proven, highly efficient combined heat and power plant (CHP) fired with natural gas and brought to production maturity in a pilot project undertaken together with the Haßfurt municipal utilities. This also enabled comparable cost effectiveness and reliability to be proved. In contrast to natural gas-fired CHPs, the agenitor H2 also achieves NOx emissions close to zero depending on the engine design. As an alternative technology, state-of-the-art fuel cells are not only significantly more expensive but have also not yet been developed to series production maturity for this application.
In the future, the agenitor H2 technology from 2G will enable a further category of small power plants to generate electrical energy as needed and without CO2 emissions. Transferring this solution to gas engines from other manufacturers is additionally desirable and, according to the manufacturers, also relatively simple in terms of the technology used on the gas engine itself.
The winner of the Innovation Award EnergyDecentral 2021 in silver is:
Gas-tight service hatch for fermenters
Erich Stallkamp ESTA GmbH
Extensive methane emissions occur time and again during service and maintenance work on submersible motor agitators on tanks with diaphragm accumulators. This escape of gas equates to an economic loss for the plant operator. At the same time, methane is 21 times more harmful to the climate than much maligned CO2. To date, the designs of service hatches additionally pose the risk of oxygen entering the gas accumulator, resulting in the possible occurrence of an explosive substance mixture.
With the gas-tight service hatch for fermenters, Erich Stallkamp ESTA GmbH is now presenting for the first time a product that has been evolved to such an extent that it can eliminate these disadvantages almost entirely and is able to minimise both methane discharge from and oxygen ingress into the system during maintenance work. This leads to an economic added value, makes a positive contribution to climate protection and improves the aspect of safety. The product additionally reduces the burden on maintenance personnel, who have so far always been compelled to work in an atmosphere heavily laden with biogas.
With the gas-tight service hatch for fermenters, Erich Stallkamp ESTA has succeeded in achieving a practical breakthrough in a field in which work has been unsuccessfully ongoing for some time to implement various possible solutions. Instead of removing the fermenter roof as usual and accepting a high gas loss, the gas-tight service hatch only has to be used to raise the filling level in order, for example, to replace the internal agitator.
1. Biogas and biomethane
2. Biofuels
3. Bio engine fuels
4. Solar energy systems
5. Decentralised energy technology
6. Ventilation, exhaust-air and exhaust-gas purification
7. Recycling and disposal systems
8. Safety technology
9. Energy distribution and storage
10. Measuring, control and regulating technology
All approved exhibitors at EnergyDecentral, whose products are within the subjects areas listed below, can participate. This also applies to joint registrations. Participation is voluntary and is not linked to any additional, direct costs. The participant bears the sole responsibility for compliance with all applicable legal regulations and these DLG award and testing regulations.
A product with a new concept for which the function has changed decisively and the use of which enables a new method or has considerably improved a known method, is awarded an innovation gold medal. The importance in practice, the effects on operating and work management, the environment and the energy situation are decisive for the choice. Effects on simplifying work and on work safety are included in the evaluation.
A product for which a known product has been developed further so that a considerable improvement in the function and the method is to be expected is awarded an innovation silver medal. Here the product does not completely meet the criteria for awarding an innovation gold medal. The economic importance in practice, the performance, the quality of work and the operating safety are decisive for the choice. In addition, positive effects on the environmental and energy situation are also to be taken into account.