@article{SternerSpecht, author = {Sterner, Michael and Specht, Michael}, title = {Power-to-Gas and Power-to-X-The History and Results of Developing a New Storage Concept}, series = {Energies}, volume = {14}, journal = {Energies}, number = {20}, publisher = {MDPI}, doi = {10.3390/en14206594}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-26202}, abstract = {Germany's energy transition, known as 'Energiewende', was always very progressive. However, it came technically to a halt at the question of large-scale, seasonal energy storage for wind and solar, which was not available. At the end of the 2000s, we combined our knowledge of both electrical and process engineering, imitated nature by copying photosynthesis and developed Power-to-Gas by combining water electrolysis with CO2-methanation to convert water and CO2 together with wind and solar power to synthetic natural gas. Storing green energy by coupling the electricity with the gas sector using its vast TWh-scale storage facility was the solution for the biggest energy problem of our time. This was the first concept that created the term 'sector coupling' or 'sectoral integration'. We first implemented demo sites, presented our work in research, industry and ministries, and applied it in many macroeconomic studies. It was an initial idea that inspired others to rethink electricity as well as eFuels as an energy source and energy carrier. We developed the concept further to include Power-to-Liquid, Power-to-Chemicals and other ways to 'convert' electricity into molecules and climate-neutral feedstocks, and named it 'Power-to-X'at the beginning of the 2010s.}, language = {en} } @article{ThemaWeidlichHoerletal., author = {Thema, Martin and Weidlich, Tobias and H{\"o}rl, Manuel and Bellack, Annett and M{\"o}rs, Friedemann and Hackl, Florian and Kohlmayer, Matthias and Gleich, Jasmin and Stabenau, Carsten and Trabold, Thomas and Neubert, Michael and Ortloff, Felix and Brotsack, Raimund and Schmack, Doris and Huber, Harald and Hafenbradl, Doris and Karl, J{\"u}rgen and Sterner, Michael}, title = {Biological CO2-Methanation: An Approach to Standardization}, series = {Energies}, volume = {12}, journal = {Energies}, number = {9}, publisher = {MDPI}, doi = {10.3390/en12091670}, pages = {1 -- 32}, abstract = {Power-to-Methane as one part of Power-to-Gas has been recognized globally as one of the key elements for the transition towards a sustainable energy system. While plants that produce methane catalytically have been in operation for a long time, biological methanation has just reached industrial pilot scale and near-term commercial application. The growing importance of the biological method is reflected by an increasing number of scientific articles describing novel approaches to improve this technology. However, these studies are difficult to compare because they lack a coherent nomenclature. In this article, we present a comprehensive set of parameters allowing the characterization and comparison of various biological methanation processes. To identify relevant parameters needed for a proper description of this technology, we summarized existing literature and defined system boundaries for Power-to-Methane process steps. On this basis, we derive system parameters providing information on the methanation system, its performance, the biology and cost aspects. As a result, three different standards are provided as a blueprint matrix for use in academia and industry applicable to both, biological and catalytic methanation. Hence, this review attempts to set the standards for a comprehensive description of biological and chemical methanation processes.}, language = {en} } @article{GaertnerMarxSchubachGadereretal., author = {G{\"a}rtner, Sebastian and Marx-Schubach, Thomas and Gaderer, Matthias and Schmitz, Gerhard and Sterner, Michael}, title = {Techno-Economic Analysis of Carbon Dioxide Separation for an Innovative Energy Concept towards Low-Emission Glass Melting}, series = {energies}, volume = {16}, journal = {energies}, number = {5}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, doi = {10.3390/en16052140}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-53627}, pages = {1 -- 25}, abstract = {The currently still high fossil energy demand is forcing the glass industry to search for innovative approaches for the reduction in CO2 emissions and the integration of renewable energy sources. In this paper, a novel power-to-methane concept is presented and discussed for this purpose. A special focus is on methods for the required CO2 capture from typical flue gases in the glass industry, which have hardly been explored to date. To close this research gap, process simulation models are developed to investigate post-combustion CO2 capture by absorption processes, followed by a techno-economic evaluation. Due to reduced flue gas volume, the designed CO2 capture plant is found to be much smaller (40 m3 absorber column volume) than absorption-based CO2 separation processes for power plants (12,560 m3 absorber column volume). As there are many options for waste heat utilization in the glass industry, the waste heat required for CO2 desorption can be generated in a particularly efficient and cost-effective way. The resulting CO2 separation costs range between 41 and 42 EUR/t CO2, depending on waste heat utilization for desorption. These costs are below the values of 50-65 EUR/t CO2 for comparable industrial applications. Despite these promising economic results, there are still some technical restrictions in terms of solvent degradation due to the high oxygen content in flue gas compositions. The results of this study point towards parametric studies for approaching these issues, such as the use of secondary and tertiary amines as solvents, or the optimization of operating conditions such as stripper pressure for further cost reductions potential.}, language = {en} } @article{GaertnerRankHeberletal., author = {G{\"a}rtner, Sebastian and Rank, Daniel and Heberl, Michael and Gaderer, Matthias and Dawoud, Belal and Haumer, Anton and Sterner, Michael}, title = {Simulation and Techno-Economic Analysis of a Power-to-Hydrogen Process for Oxyfuel Glass Melting}, series = {Energies}, volume = {14}, journal = {Energies}, number = {24}, publisher = {MDPI}, doi = {10.3390/en14248603}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-22713}, abstract = {As an energy-intensive industry sector, the glass industry is strongly affected by the increasingly stringent climate protection targets. As established combustion-based production systems ensure high process stability and glass quality, an immediate switch to low greenhouse gas emission processes is difficult. To approach these challenges, this work investigates a step-by-step integration of a Power-to-Hydrogen concept into established oxyfuel glass melting processes using a simulation approach. This is complemented by a case study for economic analysis on a selected German glass industry site by simulating the power production of a nearby renewable energy park and subsequent optimization of the power-to-hydrogen plant performance and capacities. The results of this study indicate, that the proposed system can reduce specific carbon dioxide emissions by up to 60\%, while increasing specific energy demand by a maximum of 25\%. Investigations of the impact of altered combustion and furnace properties like adiabatic flame temperature (+25 °C), temperature efficiency (∆ξ = -0.003) and heat capacity flow ratio (∆zHL = -0.009) indicate that pure hydrogen-oxygen combustion has less impact on melting properties than assumed so far. Within the case study, high CO2 abatement costs of 295 €/t CO2-eq. were determined. This is mainly due to the insufficient performance of renewable energy sources. The correlations between process scaling and economic parameters presented in this study show promising potential for further economic optimization of the proposed energy system in the future.}, language = {en} } @article{ThemaBauerSterner, author = {Thema, Martin and Bauer, Franz and Sterner, Michael}, title = {Power-to-Gas: Electrolysis and methanation status review}, series = {Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews}, volume = {112}, journal = {Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews}, number = {7}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.rser.2019.06.030}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-26238}, pages = {775 -- 787}, abstract = {This review gives a worldwide overview on Power-to-Gas projects producing hydrogen or renewable substitute natural gas focusing projects in central Europe. It deepens and completes the content of previous reviews by including hitherto unreviewed projects and by combining project names with details such as plant location. It is based on data from 153 completed, recent and planned projects since 1988 which were evaluated with regards to plant allocation, installed power development, plant size, shares and amounts of hydrogen or substitute natural gas producing examinations and product utilization phases. Cost development for electrolysis and carbon dioxide methanation was analyzed and a projection until 2030 is given with an outlook to 2050. The results show substantial cost reductions for electrolysis as well as for methanation during the recent years and a further price decline to less than 500 euro per kilowatt electric power input for both technologies until 2050 is estimated if cost projection follows the current trend. Most of the projects examined are located in Germany, Denmark, the United States of America and Canada. Following an exponential global trend to increase installed power, today's Power-to-Gas applications are operated at about 39 megawatt. Hydrogen and substitute natural gas were investigated on equal terms concerning the number of projects.}, language = {en} } @article{SternerBauer, author = {Sterner, Michael and Bauer, Franz}, title = {Power-to-X im Kontext der Energiewende und des Klimaschutzes in Deutschland}, series = {Chemie-Ingenieur-Technik}, volume = {92}, journal = {Chemie-Ingenieur-Technik}, number = {1-2}, publisher = {Wiley}, issn = {0009-286X}, doi = {10.1002/cite.201900167}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-11669}, pages = {85 -- 90}, abstract = {Um den Einfluss verschiedener Power-to-X-Verfahren auf die Transformation des deutschen Energiesystems und das Erreichen der Klimaschutzziele zu {\"u}berpr{\"u}fen, wurde ein sektor{\"u}bergreifendes Energiesystemmodel entwickelt. Die daraus gewonnenen Ergebnisse zeigen: F{\"u}r eine erfolgreiche Energiewende ist der Einsatz von Power-to-X in Zukunft unverzichtbar. Vor allem in Bereichen und Sektoren, in denen hohe Energiedichten erforderlich und nur wenig andere Optionen zur Defossilisierung vorhanden sind, werden Power-to-X-Technologien zwingend notwendig.}, subject = {Power-to-Gas}, language = {de} }