Power-to-X energy storage

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Published on: April 21, 2021 / update from: August 21, 2024 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Power-to-X, a key technology for flexible storage solutions

Flexible energy storage Power-to-X – Image: Xpert.Digital

What is Power to X?

Power-to-X, a key technology for flexible storage solutions. Power-to-X refers to all technologies that convert renewable energies or surplus electricity into corresponding electricity storage systems. The designations P2X or P2Y (PtX/PtY) are also common. P denotes the temporary surpluses above demand and the X or Y denotes the form of energy or the purpose into which the electrical energy is converted.

In order to convert the entire energy supply system to 100 percent renewable energies as part of the decarbonization necessary for climate protection reasons, Power-to-X technologies are required due to the fluctuation of certain renewable energies and to supply the heat and mobility sector. The reason for this is that as the share of renewable energies continues to increase, there will be hours in the future when feed-in exceeds demand, while when wind and solar power production is weak, energy storage systems will have to step in to cover demand.

The aim of decarbonization or decarbonization is to convert the economy to the continuous reduction of carbon. It occurs naturally both in pure form in diamond, graphite or chaoite and chemically bound in the form of carbides, carbonates, carbon dioxide, petroleum, natural gas and coal. The long-term ecological goal is to create a carbon-free energy-using economy (economy).

Division of Power-to-X technologies according to the form of energy

Power-to-Gas (PtG)
Power-to-Gas (PtG or P2G) is a technology that produces a fuel gas using water electrolysis and electrical current. This fuel gas (hydrogen, ammonia, methane) can be stored for later use. Among other things, it can be used in the form of power-to-fuel in transport (particularly as fuel for ships and aircraft), serve as a chemical raw material (usually referred to as power-to-chemicals) or be temporarily stored in the gas infrastructure for later reconversion into electricity in gas power plants become.

Power-to-Heat (PtH)
Power-to-Heat (PtH or P2H) refers to the generation of heat using electrical energy. This can be done using both electric boilers and heat pumps.

Power-to-Liquid (PtL)
The term Power to Liquid (PtL or P2L) refers to the conversion of electrical current into liquid fuel. The PtL process is a series of different sub-processes. This process is not yet used on a large scale, but potentially enables the supply of fuel from renewable electricity for sectors that cannot do without liquid fuel (such as aviation). In addition to energy and water, CO2 is the third essential input factor for the PtL process.

Classification of Power-to-X technologies according to intended use

Power-to-Ammonia
The power-to-ammonia process aims to make energy from renewable energy sources transportable and capable of being stored by chemically storing the energy in the form of ammonia. The energy can be released again by using ammonia directly as a carbon-free fuel or by serving as a hydrogen supplier.

Power-to-Chemicals
Power-to-Chemicals refers to a process in which excess electrical energy from renewable energies is used to produce chemical raw materials via water electrolysis and other downstream steps.

Power-to-Fuel
Power-to-fuel generally refers to the production of electricity-based synthetic fuels, so-called e-fuels, for the transport sector. The term is a collective name for various power-to-gas and power-to-liquid paths in which electrical energy from renewable energies is used to produce either electricity-based fuel gases or liquid fuels.

Power-to-Power
Power-to-Power refers to a storage power plant in which electrical energy can be temporarily stored as part of electrical energy technology and electricity generation. Depending on the type of power plant, storage power plants convert electrical energy into potential energy (positional energy), kinetic energy, chemical energy or thermal energy, which is stored in this form for a certain period of time and is converted back into electrical energy when necessary.

Power-to-Protein
Proteins for food can be produced from a combination of biosynthesis and electrochemical processes. In other words, the production of proteins from the chemical raw materials carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen.

Power-to-Syngas
Syngas from air and electricity. Using amine scrubbing, oxidized carbon (CO2) can be obtained from the ambient air or, more concentratedly, from flue gas, which can be converted into methane in the Sabatier process.

Suitable for:

Number of Power-to-X systems in Germany

Number of Power-to-X systems in Germany – Image: Xpert.Digital

operation in Germany in 2020 (as of November 2020). In 2019 in particular, some facilities went into operation. The term power-to-X describes the conversion of electricity from renewable energies, for example into hydrogen (“water electrolysis”) and, if necessary, further into methane (“methanization”). The resulting gas can then be fed into the natural gas network and stored there.

Global primary energy consumption by energy source

Global primary energy consumption by energy source – Image: Xpert.Digital

Number of Power-to-X systems by system type in Germany

Number of Power-to-X systems by system type in Germany – Image: Xpert.Digital

projects were counted in Germany in 2020 (as of November 2020). 23 plants of them were planned. Some projects have already been stopped, e.g. a hydrogen filling station in Hamburg. The term power-to-X describes the conversion of electricity from renewable energies, for example into hydrogen (“water electrolysis”) and, if necessary, further into methane (“methanization”). The resulting gas can then be fed into the natural gas network and stored there (“power-to-gas”).

Number of Power-to-X systems by end product in Germany

Number of Power-to-X systems by end product in Germany – Image: Xpert.Digital

In 2020, a total of 16 power-to-X systems were in operation in Germany, the end product of which was hydrogen (as of November 2020). The term power-to-X describes the conversion of electricity from renewable energies, for example into hydrogen (“water electrolysis”) and, if necessary, further into methane (“methanization”). The resulting gas can then be fed into the natural gas network and stored there (“power-to-gas”).

Power to X

Important note: The PDF is password protected.
Please get in contact with me. Of course, the PDF is free of charge. Important note: The PDF is password protected. Please contact me. Of course the PDF is free of charge.

German version – To see the PDF, please click on the image below.
German Version – To view the PDF, please click on the image below.

Power-to-X – PDF Download

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