Sub 1MW Cryogenic Low Emission Generators

The Dearman engine is a technology being developed in the UK which uses liquid air as a ‘fuel’, both in mobile and stationary applications. It is suited to <1MW power generation and is an efficient method of converting waste heat to power. The technology is part of a major investment in capital equipment by EPSRC at the University of Birmingham, and the Dearman Engine Company (DEC) is currently developing a prototype. This project will help identify a route to market for the technology by developing business cases in a new potential market. The project will assess the business cases for the engine’s application at different scales and in a variety of locations, so that the technology development can be optimised, and specific markets can be targeted for demonstration activities. We propose to carry out techno-economic analysis of the opportunities now, and under future energy system scenarios, to identify the scale and sources of value, the actors who would be in a position to capture this value, and how this value could be captured considering current or future regulatory frameworks.