Special Topics in Power-to-Chemicals Technology

Term Paper
 Rather than presentation, submit term paper.

Power to X (also known as P2X or PtX) describes the conversion of renewable electricity from wind,
water or solar as primary energy into an energy carrier “X”

 Allows storage of excess energy for later use while also absorbing energy fluctuations
 Provide an efficient alternative to curtailment of power generation during periods of surplus
production.
 In addition to balancing supply and demand, P2X solution also offer the opportunity to reduce
global CO2 emissions, which in turn has a positive impact on achieving the goals set out in the
Paris Agreement.
 Target of replacing fossil fuels with carbon-neutral or zero-carbon energy.

Power-to-X technologies by Usage:

 Power-to-Fuel
 Power-to-Chemicals
 Power-to-Ammonia
 Power-to-Power
 Power-to-Protein
 Power-to-Syngas

Power to X technologies by energy form: (Sector Coupling)

 Gas, Liquid and Heat

Power-to-Heat
 Uses electricity produced from renewable sources to supply heat through large electric boilers or
heat pumps
 P2H solutions are useful for demand-side management applications, such as peak shaving and
load shifting. These solutions can be centralized or decentralized.

Power-to-Hydrogen
 Process of splitting water (H2O) into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity, through process
called electrolysis.
 When renewable power is used for this process, hydrogen becomes a complementary carrier of
renewable energy.
 During current electrolysis has a maximum efficiency of 80-85%.
 The round-trip reconversion efficiency for hydrogen storage is, however, between 35-50%.
 While the round-trip conversion efficiency is lower, as compared to batteries, and the electrolysis
process can be expensive.
Power-to-Gas
 Describes the process in which water (H2O) is split into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) by
electrolysis using electricity.
 H2 can be further converted into methane through a process called methanation
 H2 is reacted with CO2 to produce synthetic natural gas (SNG)
 Stored for extended period or used to produce electricity through conventional systems that run
on natural gas.
  Methane reconversion technologies include gas turbines, CCGT plants, and reciprocating
engines.

Power-to-Liquid Chemicals
 Hydrogen produced from electrolysis of water, powered by renewable energy, can also be
converted to liquid fuels such as methanol, oxymethylene ether (OME), synthetic crude, gasoline,
diesel, and jet fuel.

TERM PAPER
 End product of P2G, P2L, P2H, what do you want (e.g. Ammonia, Kerosene)
 3 persons per term paper
 Choose a final chemical, propose a process from low energy starting material, to the electrical
power-based activation, to high energy chemical building block, then conversion process and then
the final chemical 