Prof. Vasilev from TU-Sofia: It is a utopia to have reactors, hydrogen, and gas from coal in "Maritza Iztok"

  
After an interview with Mediapool with Yordan Yankov, the owner of "Nucleon Consulting", who works together with Gemcorp and IP3, companies that have signed a memorandum with the government for green transformation, regarding the projects behind this document, a behind-the-scenes dispute erupted between him and Prof. Hristo Vasilev from the Technical University (TU) in Sofia, who disputed the economic logic of the stated intentions. According to Vasilev, there is none, and Yankov, in his right of reply in Mediapool, disputed his calculations and pointed out that investors will evaluate the project. Now the professor responds to Yankov's comment. Mediapool published his "reply to the reply", but will not delve deeper into any potential continuation of their dispute. Prof. Vasilev points out in his new comment that in his calculations he assumed that the project proposed by "Nucleon" would use energy from photovoltaics and from a CHP plant with CO2 capture, whose price is 5.73 €/kg H2 = 116 €/MWh. Energy solely from photovoltaics, as Yankov pointed out, leads to a price of 6.04 €/kg H2 = 123 €/MWh. "The reason for the increase in the price of hydrogen in the second option is the significant reduction in the annual utilization of the electrolyzer (on average less than 7 hours/day). Additionally, an installation for short-term storage and compression of hydrogen is installed, which will ensure continuous operation of the methanol production system. This leads to an increase in investments and energy costs and increases the price of hydrogen by about 12 €/MWh", the lecturer from TU-Sofia points out. He adds that it is no coincidence that producers of green hydrogen choose areas designated as the sunniest and windiest, since these types of energy complement each other and the price of hydrogen falls below 2 €/kg H2. According to him, there is no economic logic in producing methanol with a hydrogen price above 6€/kg H2, given that there is hydrogen on the market at a price of 2€/kg. The professor also believes that a project for the gasification of lignite coal will not receive a positive environmental assessment and points out that there are no such installations in the EU and none are planned. He recalls that Germany, Poland, Greece and other EU countries have decided to close lignite mines. He also points out that although Germany has 90 years of experience in producing various products from coal, including methanol, it does not plan the gasification of lignite coal for the production of synthetic gas, despite the fact that it is currently facing serious problems with the natural gas supply chain. According to Vasilev, this shows the unsustainability of the idea for massive production of synthetic gas at the site of the energy complex "Mitsa East" and "creating unrealistic hope for miners is a "dangerous game". The representative of the Technical University in Sofia commented again that it has not been presented what type and capacity of small modular reactors are being offered and how their operation will be ensured in terms of personnel and delivery of fresh nuclear fuel, and subsequently how radioactive waste will be managed, etc. He recalls that there are many procedures that must be carried out – such as a government decision for new nuclear capacity, preparation of an environmental assessment, a technical project, and licensing and construction permits for such reactors. Yankov, however, has already responded that at this stage it is too early to delve into such details and more clarity can be expected after the pre-project study for the project is developed. Prof. Vasilev recalls that after 2035, systems ensuring sustainability with 100% green energy, without the use of nuclear energy, will be applied in global electricity generation. He also cites forecasts from IRENA and IEA and others that the relative share of nuclear energy will constantly decrease, to fall below 6.5% of global electricity production by 2050. "Investors bet on realistic projects, not utopian ideas!", Hristo Vasilev concludes his reply.

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Mediapool.bg, 14.04.2022