Blue Tower (Herten)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The first “blue tower” in 2003

Two pilot projects for gradual reform in the North Rhine-Westphalian city ​​of Herten are referred to as the “ Blue Tower Herten ” . “Blue” refers to the blue shell around the steel skeleton of the synthesis tower.

While the first, smaller project ran from 2001 to its dismantling in 2006 despite various problems in experimental operation, the follow-up project decided in 2008 was canceled in 2011 due to the insolvency of the main investor, Solar Millennium AG. The development from prestige and showcase project to loss object was the subject of various media reports.

technology

In the applied thermochemical processes are renewable raw materials , manure or organic waste into a combustible, hydrogen-rich and nitrogen-poor gas mixture converted. The diversity of the starting materials that can be used is an advantage of the process.

At high temperatures, pyrolysis produces not only methane and carbon monoxide, but also primarily hydrogen . The process, in which the carbonization of the biomass and the formation of the product gas take place separately, is to be used to generate heat and to generate electrical energy in gas generators and later also serve as a hydrogen source.

In practical tests, a synthesis gas with approximately the following composition was achieved:

  • 45% H 2
  • 15% CO
  • 15% CH 4

The remaining components are CO 2 and water. Not only the gas composition, which varies depending on the nature of the starting materials, but also the necessary recompression are considered to be detrimental to overall efficiency. The ceramic dust produced by the technology and the post-purification of the gas are seen as problematic.

history

The Dr. Mills GmbH & CO. KG patented process was used between 2001 and 2006 in a pilot plant with an output of one megawatt in Herten .

After its dismantling, a facility officially known as the “Blue Tower” with a capacity of 10 megawatts was to be built on the site of the former Ewald colliery . The name refers to the color of the resulting synthetic natural gas with a high hydrogen content as well as to the cladding of the steel skeleton around the reforming tower, which should also be illuminated in blue at night in project presentations. The project was funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with 7.1 million euros, around 3 million euros were paid out until the project stopped.

Critics of the project considered the technology to be too expensive from the start and questioned the practical readiness and energy efficiency of the process. Critics also criticized the large volumes of raw materials used to generate the energy-containing synthesis gas and the risk of illegal disposal of hazardous waste , as well as unsolved problems with the technology.

With the insolvency of the majority owner of the company shares in Blue Tower GmbH, Solar Millennium AG , the construction work was stopped.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Ruhrbarone: Blue Hope in Herten , accessed August 14, 2012.
  2. ↑ a b Energy Agency NRW, May 23, 2001: A pilot plant for converting biomass into electricity was opened in Herten. , accessed August 14, 2012.
  3. ↑ Hydrogen City -Herten: The Blue Tower - 150 m 3 H 2 per hour ( Memento of the original from November 2, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed August 14, 2012. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.wasserstoffstadt-herten.de
  4. ↑ WDR, December 22, 2011: Does the blue tower still have a future? , accessed August 14, 2012.
  5. ↑ Recklinghaeuser Zeitung, December 5, 2011: The "Blue Tower" - Herten hydrogen city is threatened with a disaster , accessed August 14, 2012.
  6. ↑ WAZ, May 4, 2012: Blauer Turm - Land demands millions back , accessed August 14, 2012.
  7. ↑ Hertener Allgemeine, July 22, 2012: Sale after bankruptcy: Blauer-Turm construction site becomes the Resterampe , accessed August 14, 2012.
  8. ^ Hydrogen city Herten: Blue Tower technology description ( Memento of the original from November 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 115 kB), accessed August 24, 2012. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.wasserstoffstadt-herten.de
  9. ↑ a b Biowasserstoff-Magazin, April 15, 2009: Hydrogen production - Blue Tower (PDF; 1.0 MB), accessed August 14, 2012.
  10. ↑ CleanEnergy: Subsidy ruin or promising innovation? ( Memento of the original from February 22, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed August 14, 2012. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.cleanenergy-project.de
  11. ^ RAG, March 6, 2009: Laying of the foundation stone for future technology Blue Tower in Herten , accessed August 15, 2012.

Coordinates: 51 ° 34 ′ 25 ″  N , 7 ° 8 ′ 53 ″  E