Facilities and equipment

The combination of green electricity supply to the hydrogen generation electrolyser with other hydrogen and battery capabilities on site enables research into overall equipment efficiency (OEE) and optimisation studies of integrated green energy systems.

• A fully-automated hydrogen electrolyser which generates pressurised hydrogen, with a purity of 99.999%, from the electrolysis of water using an alkaline electrolyte
• Designed in a fail-safe mode with remote control and monitoring features
• Could produce up to 32 cubic meters of hydrogen per hour
• Equipped with a specialised compressor which brings up the pressure of the generated hydrogen to 200 bar
• The pressurised hydrogen is safely stored in a bank of cylinders with a storage capacity of more than 35 kg (>450 Nm³)
• Could operate with as low as -10°C ambient temperatures

With a CO2 capture efficiency of over 95%, and the capacity to capture up to 1 tonne of CO2 per day, it’s a pivotal tool in research methods to combat climate change.

• Fully instrumented, 1 tonne/day pilot-scale conventional solvent-based CO2 capture plant with two absorber columns and solvent redistribution at each of the four packed beds.
• Integrated with Gas Mixing Facility, trace gas injections, 240kWth waste to energy boiler, 330kWth Gas Turbine, Reverse Water Gas Shift (rWGS) and Fischer-Tropsch (FT) plant to enable CCUS research on liquid fuel production from natural gas, biomass and wastes using green hydrogen produced using solar power.
• Enables the development, evaluation and optimisation of a variety of solvents for energy performance, degradation studies and counter-measures.
• Flexible design to accommodate process modifications to assess response of capture plants to load changes on power plants in response to variability of power grid due to intermittency of renewables.
• Plant upgraded to accommodate testing of solvent at high temperatures, up to 180 ⁰C. 
• Two stage water wash to remove carried over solvent by the flue gas to facilitate testing of more volatile solvents.
• Pretreatment unit to tailor flue gas properties to meet the solvent requirements.
• Provisions for corrosion coupons and alternative materials test sites.
• Trace gas injection capability for capturing carbon from any synthesized flue gas compositions.
• Comprehensive analytical capabilities for flue gas and solvent monitoring for energy and environmental assessment.
• Integrated with our rotating packed bed CO2 capture plant for comparative performance assessment of individual units (absorber/stripper).

GC×GC TOFMS (comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry) separates complex aviation fuels into individual components across two dimensions—typically polarity in one dimension and boiling point in the second. The TOFMS and FID detectors simultaneously provide identification and quantification of each component, enabling detailed chemical profiles critical for fuel performance and regulatory compliance.

A major application for this unit is to compare characteristics for different sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with conventional fuel.

• Over 100 million hours of service, and used in both the Boeing B737 family and Airbus A320.
• Thermal power input up to ~1.5MW
• Any operating condition conditions could be achieved between 20-36 gm/s fuel flow
• Air bleed flow output up to 1.17 kg/s at 4 bar
• Up to 90 KVA electric power export
• Ten dual-orifice fuel atomisers
• High pressure ratio compressor (8:1)
• Effusion-cooled annular combustor
• Two stage axial turbine
• Separate load compressor
• Enables testing of emissions, particulate matter (PM) size, density and number distribution as well as gaseous emissions
• Performance parameters, combustion acoustics
• Diagnostics inside the combustor (depending on funding application)
• Validation of medium pressure combustion models
• Capability of operating on wide range of jet fuels including sustainable and renewable aviation fuels
• Two stage axial turbine
• Separate load compressor
• Emissions, PM size, density and number distribution as well as gaseous emissions
• Performance parameters, combustion acoustics
• Diagnostics inside the combustor (depending on funding application)
• Validation of medium pressure combustion models
• Capability of operating on wide range of jet fuels including sustainable and renewable aviation fuels

• A range of working fluids can be tested on site. The current working fluid is well suited for low-temperature waste heat recovery from a source even as low as 70°C water to generate electrical output
• Our ORC uses heat from the 240kW WtE boiler and is able to produce over 10 kW net electrical output.
• ORCs are mobile and plug and play systems, with the ability to utilise a range of heat sources.
• Applications can include:
  • Waste heat on exhaust stacks, including from industrial processes
  • Internal combustion engine exhaust or jacket cooling water
  • Renewable sources such as solar collectors or geothermal
  • Additional heat recovery is possible by connecting the cold loop of the ORC to low temperature heating or drying systems

The chosen organic fluid also has a favourable environmental performance, being non-toxic, non-flammable and having a low GHG potential.

We bring together energy generation across multiple low-carbon sources and heat and power utilisation, and we look at grid balancing between the systems, including energy storage. We also monitor how these systems are affected by dynamic operations both individually and as part of an integrated multi-element system.

In addition to the CCUS applications, we bring together different generation systems in micro-grid arrangements to optimise both local efficiency and manage exports to the grid and simulated grid balancing. We also focus on thermal energy management, including monitoring of heat flows from and generation to thermal storage, onsite process/space heating utilisation and (in the future) wider site heat networks.

• 30kW output power
• Up to 90% CO2 capture
• Heavily instrumented with voltage measurements, thermocouples and sensors for pressure and gas analysis
• Integrated with natural gas desulfuriser and fuel humidifier
• State-of-the-art load bank where power is consumed at fixed power levels
• Interface that detects internal conditions with an incorporated control system to initiate shutdown actions
• Excess CO2 recirculated from anode to cathode
• Co-produces hydrogen

• Wide particle size range 6 nm – 10 µm with one single instrument and one measurement method
• Real-time particle number size distribution in up to 500 size classes
• 1 Hz sampling rate
• Possibility to collect size classified particles for chemical analysis using analysis collection plates
• Possibility for long-term maintenance free particle measurements with sintered collection plates
• Wide operational concentration range
• High temperature aerosol measurements from up to 180°c
• ISO16000-34 compliant measurement method for real-time determination of particulate matter indoors
• Insensitivity to variations in sample pressure
• Several data saving options including analogue inputs and outputs
• Can be used also in standard ELPI+ mode to measure particle active surface, mass and charge size distribution

To complement the ELPI analyser, and to quantify particulates matter using internationally recognised and approved techniques, we also offer:

• SAE / EPA smoke number measurement capability
• US EPA method 5I and method 202 particulate measurement system

The plant can produce hundreds of litres of fuel a day and is designed to easily try out new reactor designs and catalysts under various conditions, supporting the creation of cleaner aviation fuels.

• Modular design for testing different setups and technologies, including new types of Reverse Water Gas Shift (rWGS) and Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reactors, as well as cutting-edge catalysts.
• Features a gas polishing system to clean the gas and protect the catalysts from being damaged by impurities.
• Recycles any excess gas at each step of the process, improving the overall conversion efficiency and ensuring maximum fuel production from the inputs.
• The plant can use CO2 captured from various sources around the facility, like biomass boilers, gas turbines, and the Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant. This CO2 can be captured using either a solvent-based system or the molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC).
•  The plant gets its hydrogen from our on-site electrolysers, ensuring a supply of green hydrogen for the fuel production process.
• Possible to integrate the plant with a biomass gasifier, allowing for the direct use of biomass-generated syngas in the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reactor and skipping the need for the Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) process.
• The SAF produced can be tested right on site using an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to evaluate combustion performance and emissions, ensuring the fuel meets high standards for efficiency and environmental impact.

Its can be integrated with carbon capture technology and our on-site Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) turbine, and allows for the generation of clean energy using a wide range of biomass or bio-waste fuels while capturing CO2 emissions.

• Capable of efficiently burning a wide range of biomass fuels, including virgin wood and energy crops, as well as a range of waste materials such as recycled wood, biomass waste from agriculture, and food processing residues.
• Equipped with numerous ports at key zones along the furnace to enable detailed analysis of combustion processes, including deposition and corrosion. It is also equipped with a range of analysers to to characterise gaseous, and fine and ultra-fine particulate emissions.
• Facilitates easy collection and sampling of ash for further study.
• The flue gas from the boiler can be sent to different CO2 capture systems on-site, including a solvent-based post-combustion capture plant and the MCFC. This set-up lets us study how to capture CO2 from the gases produced by burning waste, using both on-site and visiting carbon capture equipment.
• Heat to Power Conversion: The waste heat generated can be converted into electricity by the ORC, illustrating an effective use of all energy produced and contributing to the net electrical output.

• Signal stack gas analyser system (O2, CO2, CO, NOx, THC)
• Gasmet FTIRs for flue gas analysis (O2, CO2, CO, NOx, SO2, HCs, HCL, HF) and emissions from the CO2 capture process (NH3, CH2O, amines, etc)
• ETG syngas analyser (H2, CH4, CO2, CO, O2, THC)
• Portable Servomex analysers (O2, CO2)
• High Temperature HR-ELPI®+ submicron aerosol analyser
• Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) for online multi-metal emissions detection (including K, Na, Hg, Cr, Cd, Pb, V, Zn; as well as Ag, Al, B, Br, Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, I, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, S, Sb, Sc, Ti, Si, Sn)
• Analytical probes: Ellipsoidal radiometer, flame imaging camera probe, suction pyrometer, gas sampling probes, particle collection probe, corrosion and deposition probes

Entrained metal aerosols:

• Use of a unique continuous online inductively coupled plasma optical emissions spectrometer
• Generates real-time emissions spectra for the quantitative and simultaneous multiple element detection, down to ultra-trace levels
• species and concentrations determined for a range of elements of interest – including those that cause operational issues or are toxic (alkali/alkali earth, transition and heavy/toxic metal emissions)
• can be used to aid element partitioning studies
• used to determine which elements are carried over in the syngas and/or flue gases to subsequent plants (e.g. to the combustion system, CO2 capture facility, etc.)

Particulate matter:

• online particle size analyser that generates data for particle size spectra, total particle concentration and active surface
• can assess particulate matter in the size range of 6 nm – 10 μm, where our focus will be on submicron particles – of interest for health, environmental and operational reasons
• can collect deposited samples after each test and chemically characterise these for each of the 14 size ranges (to aid in element partitioning studies)

The bed is equipped with a contaminants dosing system (O2, SO2, water etc.) to test their long term impact on the Hex performance, and the system’s setup means two heat exchangers can be tested simultaneously.

• A high-pressure, high temperature Heat Exchanger (HEX) test bed with fully instrumented fail-safe operation.
• The test bed includes two supercritical CO2 loops, high pressure and low pressure, with operating pressures of up to 300 and 100 bars, respectively, and temperature of up to 600 ⁰C.
• The testbed has the ability to test two heat exchangers at the same time.
• This equipment supports research and development in high-efficiency power conversion cycles and their global applications in power and industrial sectors.
• The test bed focuses on a wide range of applications including supercritical CO2 for oxy-fired gas cycles (Allam cycle), nuclear applications as well studies on materials for CO2 transport pipelines.
• It also provides performance data for the supercritical CO2 cycle to model and evaluate designs, for example in fluid passages.
• This equipment is also suitable for studying heat transfer, pressure drop, thermal stresses, impact of phase changes, impurities, fouling, corrosion and for materials research in heat exchangers using a range of fluids.
• Contaminants dosing capability to test various operational scenarios miming real industrial applications

It can operate on a broad spectrum of fuels, from natural gas mixed with hydrogen to bio-methane, and even has the potential to run on pure hydrogen.

• Enertwin – a novel low-carbon microturbine based CHP system with 3.2 kW and 15.6 kW electrical and thermal outputs respectively
• Has an overall efficiency of 94% and electrical efficiency of 16%
• Has flexibility to operate with a wide range of fuels (e.g. bio-methane, natural gas mixed with up 23% hydrogen, LNG and CNG)
• Has potential to be altered to research pure hydrogen operation
• Flexible turndown without a significant loss in efficiency: 1 to 3.2 kWe and 6 to 15.6 kWth
• CO2 and NOx Emissions reduced by 9.5 tonnes/year
• Has a rapid start-up: less than 2 minutes
• Ideal for old houses and buildings as it is primarily a plug-and-play technology (installation costs are low)
• Low maintenance costs; it has only one moving part
• Silent and vibration-free (55 dB(A) 1m)
• Demonstrates low-weight and it does not need therefore structural changes
• The generator is fully integrated in the microturbine rotor system, avoiding costs and losses of additional couplings and bearing
• Remote monitoring and control capability ensures more efficient servicing and reduced unnecessary
• Has been awarded CE certificate by KIWA

It can be also used to investigate the effect of the new materials and/or designs on the fuel cell performance.

• It will enable a multi-range electronic load with a maximum load power of 50 W.
• A current resolution ≤ 10 mA. A mass flow controller for anode: ≥ 2 SLPM. A mass flow controller for cathode: ≥ 2 SLPM.
• Temperature-controlled humidifiers for the reactant gases.
• Fuel cell software for computer-controlled cell operation and experimentation. measurement for the real-time cell resistance.

The modular design also enables research into fuel cell operation, overall equipment efficiency (OEE) and integration with green electricity supply and storage systems.

• Generates a power that could be used by the end user or sold to the national grid.
• Provided with an internal bridge power system that enables instantaneous power generation from cold start.
• Equipped with frost protection integrated utility that allows for operation at sub-freezing temperatures.
• Operates at a wide range of pressures (2.7 to 10 bar) and relative humidity (5 to 100%).
• Has an integrated control and monitoring system.
• Real-time monitoring of hydrogen consumption, electricity generation, fuel cell stack voltage and current, to name a few.

• With 200-300kWth input and turndown to 50kWth and maximum operating temperature of 1500°C.
• Sized for research with industrial long flame burners, having a working length of ~3m.
• The HCRF supports fundamental and applied research on hydrogen combustion and cofiring with other fuels (primarily natural gas) in air as well as planned capability for oxy-fuel firing or oxygen enrichment; flame, heat transfer and emissions characterisation; burner development; corrosion, deposition and materials research and other aspects of combustion research.

• The IMI unit is a PEM electrolyser: The catalyst is a noble metal-based matrix with a proton conducting polymer (unlike our other electrolyser, which uses an alkaline solution catalyst)
• Capable of producing 110Nm3 per hour of green hydrogen with storage capacity of 1080 Nm3.
• Designed for fully automated, fail-safe operation with remote control and monitoring features

• The Burkhardt GmbH V4.50 gasifier and integrated KW Energie Smartblock 50 T engine is designed to produce clean syngas for heat and power generation from biomass fuels.
• The wood-based system produces 50 kWe exported to the grid and 110 kWth in the form of hot water (electrical efficiency = 25%; thermal efficiency = 55%, overall efficiency = 80%).
• With precise control for the gasification process, it enables users to achieve high-quality, clean syngas production, with a low tar content.
• Novel stationary fluidised fuel pellet bed is used in a parallel flow updraught gasification unit.
• Continuous online monitoring of the syngas composition, which typically contains ~18-20% hydrogen and 25% CO, with small amounts of methane and other gases.
• Extensive analytical facilities for research and development on the syngas quality.
• The flue gas output is fully integrated with the on-site CO2 capture and utilisation facilities.
• Integration of the syngas with the onsite Fischer-Tropsch plant enables liquid biofuel production, especially jet fuels.

This can also be used with digested ash samples from biomass combustion/gasification, to analyse for the metal levels present and aid in the determination of element fate and partitioning.

The ICP-OES identifies and quantifies the elements present within a fuel sample, with a focus on metal species. The instrument can simultaneously measure the concentration of 50+ elements, including those that are of specific interest for aviation fuels (e.g. Cu, Mn, Fe, Mg, Zn). This can identify species that may be problematic for fuel use.

• Integrated autosampler for ease of sample introduction
• Fuel-specific nebuliser is integrated into the system to provide the sample as an aerosol with an argon carrier gas
• High temperature plasma (up to 8000 K) is used to dissociate the molecules into atoms, which are then ionised
• Semiconductor-based detector system measures the intensity of emitted radiation from the spectral components
• Can analyse for a wide range of elements within the optics range of 129.230 – 771.210 nm, providing element calibrations are performed
• Current test method for aviation fuels based on ASTM D7111-16 (2021)
• An alternative sample introduction system (autosampler needle, sample tubing, nebuliser, etc.) can be installed to analyse elemental contaminants in other types of sample (acid samples – for example, digested ash samples)

• The combined-heat-and-power biodiesel engine can use a range of liquid biofuels (largely conforming to EN 14214) to generate green energy
• It has 188 kW grid synchronised green electrical generation capacity, and can operate at a range of turndown ratios
• The engine is turbocharged, fully water cooled and has a direct injection 4 stroke, 5 cylinder set-up
• The facility enables quantitative research into fuels of different origins/quality, power conversion, operational parameters, etc.
• Extensive system monitoring and data logging, including with the emissions monitoring suite, provides comprehensive data for system operation
• Stage V emissions compliance system is in place, including selective catalytic reduction
• The flue gas output is fully integrated with the on-site CO2 capture and utilisation facilities thus informing on another method of BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage)

It’s linked with a conventional solvent-based plant to explore and benchmark various solvents, improve capture solutions, and study solvent degradation, and is equipped with a state-of-the-art RPB desorption technology known as an Integrated Stripper Reboiler (ISR).

• Next-generation pilot scale, process-intensified solvent-based CO2 capture plant with a rotating packed bed absorber and stripper, designed to remove up to 1 tonne /day of CO2 (based on MEA) from an equivalent of approximately 150kWth conventional coal combustion flue gas
• Improved energy performance thanks to enhanced mass transfer
• Integrated with Reverse Water Gas Shift (rWGS) and Fischer-Tropsch (FT) plant for CCUS research on liquid hydrocarbon production from captured CO2 using green hydrogen produced using solar power
• Integrated with Gas Mixing Facility, trace gas injections, 240kWth waste to energy boiler, 330kWth Gas Turbine, Reverse Water Gas Shift (rWGS) and Fischer-Tropsch (FT) plant to enable CCUS research on liquid fuel production from natural gas, biomass and wastes using green hydrogen produced using solar power
• Integrated with trace gas injections facility enabling carbon capture from any synthesised flue gas compositions, including industrial effluent gas mixtures
• Integrated with conventional CO2 capture plant for performance assessment of individual units (absorber/stripper)
• Develop, evaluate and optimise a variety of solvents for post-combustion capture and related technologies, and investigate solvent energy performance, degradation studies and counter measures
• Provisions for corrosion coupons and alternative materials test sites

What sets this gas turbine apart is its multi-fuel capability, allowing it to run on hydrogen, natural gas, biogas and syngas, as well as blends of these. This flexibility is crucial for researching and deploying a range of biofuels and low- and zero-carbon fuel options.

• The Alsaldo AE T100 micro gas turbine is highly instrumented to allow monitoring of the whole gas turbine cycle (temperatures, pressures etc), including extensive emissions analysis from the exhaust.
• Conventionally fueled by natural gas, we have worked with DLR and PSC in Germany to convert our system to fire and co-fire a range of other more sustainable fuels, including hydrogen, syngas and biogas.
• The system comprises a single-stage centrifugal compressor (with a pressure ratio of 4.5:1), a combustion chamber and a single-stage radial turbine.
• The main diffusion flame is swirl stabilised and is supported by a pilot flame for additional stability. 
• The generator and shaft rotate at up to 70,000 rpm to generate high-frequency electricity that is exported to the grid.
• The counter-current water-gas heat exchanger is used to recover thermal energy. Overall, the system has an electrical output of 100 kW, with a thermal output of 165 kW (electrical efficiency ~30%; total efficiency ~80 %).
• The significant dilution ensures high combustion efficiencies and low levels of emissions (CO, NOx, etc).
• Post-combustion CO2 capture research from the turbine system is available, since the flue gas pathway is integrated into the on-site capture systems.