Novel Ch0C low-carbon gas boiler commissions
In France, the low-carbon gas boiler Ch0C has been commissioned at the Villers-Saint-Paul site (Oise) after just three years of collaborative work. Based on the integration and development of cutting-edge technological components by French companies in the project consortium, Ch0C marks the emergence of new industrial gas combustion equipment that enables a very high level of decarbonization at a competitive cost.
Industrial boilers, across all energy sources, account for 23 percent of the total emissions from French industry.
Launched by a consortium of 16 stakeholders, this gas boiler demonstrator, aimed at industry, has received support from ADEME and France 2030.
The consortium, led by Naldeo Technologies & Industries, brings together energy providers, equipment manufacturers, scientific experts, and industrial companies – Babcock Wanson, ENGIE Solutions, Fives, GRDF, NaTran, TotalEnergies, and VERDEMOBIL BIOGAZ are project partners, while Agrial, Agro Mousquetaires, Bonduelle, Carboneo, Coca-Cola, Constellium, Eiffage Énergie Systèmes, and the University of Paris are observer members.
The demonstrator is now operational, marking a major milestone in validating the results of the various technical studies conducted prior to the project.
Starting immediately, multiple tests will be conducted under real-world conditions to optimize the performance of this 3 MW boiler.
Constraint turned into an opportunity
Ch0C is a next-generation industrial gas boiler designed to facilitate the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during gas combustion.
According to a joint statement, Ch0C “marks a turning point. We are no longer in the experimental phase: we now have functioning equipment that will allow its users to significantly improve their carbon footprint”.
The high-efficiency Babcock Wanson boiler is equipped with a state-of-the-art Pillard “OXYFLAM” ultra-low NOx burner and a carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and liquefaction system developed by Verdemobil Biogaz.
The CO2 is recovered directly at the boiler outlet instead of being released into the atmosphere, thus drastically reducing the carbon impact associated with the production of steam and hot water.
The captured CO2 can then be sequestered or recovered. Many industrial players require CO2 in their processes, such as in the food or chemical industries.
Optimizing performance to consume less energy
The innovation of the Ch0C boiler is based on the principle of oxy-combustion, which replaces air with oxygen during the combustion process.
This not only concentrates the CO2 produced for capture and recovery but also improves the boiler’s performance.
For the same amount of gas consumed, the boiler enables the better use of the heat produced—a major expectation from industrial players.
A competitive technology
The Ch0C boiler is expected to be commercialized as early as 2026. In terms of total operating cost – includes the cost of the boiler and operational expenses but excluding taxes – the Ch0C should offer a cost per kWh of steam produced up to 40 percent lower than that of an electric boiler and at least equivalent to that of a biomass boiler.
Another advantage the consortium highlights is that, compared to alternative solutions, the carbon impact is halved when the CO2 is recovered.
The higher the power rating, the more competitive the Ch0C boiler becomes, helping meet the high levels of decarbonization imposed on industrial players.
Replacing 1,000 industrial 3 MW gas boilers with this new boiler could prevent the emission of 4 million tonnes of CO2 per year, operating 7,000 hours per year, consuming 21 TWh of natural gas, and a 90 percent reduction in direct CO2 emissions related to this consumption.
A potential of 2,000 such boilers is identified in the French market for power ranges between 1 MW and 20 MW.
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