DEMOSOFC · Project

Turning Wastewater Biogas Into Clean Electricity and Heat Using Fuel Cells

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Wastewater treatment plants produce biogas as a byproduct — it usually just gets burned off or wasted. DEMOSOFC built and tested a full-scale fuel cell power system that takes that biogas and converts it into electricity and usable heat right on site. Think of it like giving your sewage plant its own clean power station that runs on waste it already produces. The team installed the system at a real wastewater facility in Italy and ran it long enough to measure actual performance, emissions, and costs.

By the numbers

EUR 4,492,561

EU contribution for full-scale demonstration

consortium partners across academia and industry

countries involved (Finland, Italy, UK)

50%

industry partners in the consortium

total project deliverables produced

5+ years

project duration (Sept 2015 – Oct 2020)

The business problem

What needed solving

Wastewater treatment plants consume large amounts of energy but also produce biogas through anaerobic digestion — a valuable fuel that is often flared or underutilized. Conventional generators that burn this biogas are inefficient and produce significant emissions. Plant operators need a cleaner, more efficient way to convert their own waste-derived biogas into usable electricity and heat on-site.

The solution

What was built

A complete fuel cell power system (SOFC-based CHP) was installed at a real wastewater treatment plant, including site preparation, fuel cell modules, control hardware and software, fuel supply connections, electrical grid connection, and thermal recovery integration. The team then ran and analyzed the system across two operating periods, producing 31 deliverables covering energy generation, emissions, and thermal performance.

Audience

Who needs this

Municipal wastewater treatment plant operators looking to cut energy costsBiogas plant owners seeking higher-efficiency electricity generationEnergy service companies (ESCOs) offering distributed CHP solutionsIndustrial facilities with on-site anaerobic digestion producing biogasUtility companies exploring fuel cell technology for distributed generation

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Water and wastewater utilities

enterprise

Target: Municipal or private wastewater treatment plant operators

If you are a wastewater treatment plant operator dealing with rising energy bills and unused biogas — this project demonstrated a fuel cell CHP system installed at a real facility that converts your existing biogas into on-site electricity and heat. The system was tested over extended operating periods with detailed analysis of energy output, thermal recovery, and emissions. With 6 partners across 3 countries validating the approach, this is not a lab concept but a proven installation.

Distributed energy and CHP providers

mid-size

Target: Companies selling or operating sub-MW combined heat and power systems

If you are an energy services company looking for the next generation of distributed CHP technology below 1 MW — DEMOSOFC demonstrated solid oxide fuel cells running on biogas with high electrical efficiency and low emissions. The project included full business and replication analysis, giving you a ready-made case for deploying these systems at industrial sites. The EUR 4,492,561 EU-backed demonstration provides credible performance data you can use with your own customers.

Biogas plant operations

any

Target: Operators of anaerobic digestion facilities at farms, food processors, or landfills

If you are running an anaerobic digestion plant and looking for a more efficient way to use the biogas you produce — this project showed that solid oxide fuel cells outperform conventional gas engines in electrical efficiency when running on biogas. The demonstration included detailed emissions analysis and thermal recovery data across two operating periods. The consortium's exploitation analysis specifically addressed replication to other biogas-producing sites.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does a system like this cost to install and operate?

The project's EU contribution was EUR 4,492,561 for the full demonstration including R&D, installation, and analysis. The project explicitly included economic interest analysis and business replication studies, but specific per-unit costs are not published in the available data. Contact the coordinator for detailed cost breakdowns.

Can this work at industrial scale beyond a single demo site?

The system was demonstrated at a real wastewater treatment plant — not in a lab. One of the six core objectives was specifically the exploitation and business analysis of replicating this type of system at other sites. The sub-MW scale targets distributed CHP applications at industrial and commercial facilities.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can I license it?

The consortium of 6 partners across Italy, Finland, and the UK jointly developed the technology. IP is typically shared among consortium members under Horizon 2020 rules. Companies interested in licensing or deploying the technology should contact Politecnico di Torino as the coordinating institution.

What emissions performance was actually measured?

The project produced two dedicated deliverables analyzing emissions — one for the initial operating period and one for extended long-run operation. The objectives highlight low emissions as a key achievement. Specific emission figures are documented in those deliverables and available through the coordinator.

How long has this system been running?

The project ran from September 2015 to October 2020, a span of over five years. The demonstration included two distinct analysis phases — an initial operating period and a long-run period — with separate deliverables documenting energy generation, thermal recovery, and emissions for each.

How hard is it to integrate this with an existing wastewater plant?

The project produced specific deliverables for site preparation, SOFC installation, control system setup, and connection of the fuel cell to fuel supply, electrical grid, and thermal recovery systems. This step-by-step integration at a real facility means the practical challenges have been identified and documented.

Is this technology ready for commercial deployment?

The FCH2-IA funding scheme is specifically for innovation actions at demonstration level. With a completed real-site installation, extended operation data, and a dedicated business replication analysis, this technology is at the piloting stage. Commercial rollout would require manufacturing scale-up and site-specific engineering.

Consortium

Who built it

The DEMOSOFC consortium brings together 6 partners from 3 countries (Finland, Italy, and the UK), with a balanced mix of 3 industry players, 2 universities, and 1 research organization — giving it a 50% industry ratio. This heavy industry presence is typical of demonstration projects where commercial viability matters. The project is coordinated by Politecnico di Torino, a leading Italian technical university, which provides academic rigor while the industrial partners bring manufacturing and deployment expertise. One SME in the consortium suggests involvement of a specialized technology provider. For a business considering this technology, the multinational consortium means the solution has been validated across different regulatory and market environments, not just one country.

POLITECNICO DI TORINOCoordinator · IT
IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINEparticipant · UK
TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OYparticipant · FI
Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A.participant · IT
CONVION OYparticipant · FI

How to reach the team

Politecnico di Torino (Italy) — energy department. Use Google to find the DEMOSOFC project lead and their university contact details.

Order a report on this consortium See POLITECNICO DI TORINO profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the DEMOSOFC team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right people and prepare a tailored brief for your specific use case.

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