DUISBURG Power-to-gas technologies for converting electricity into storable gas are the driver of sector coupling and can increase the usability of electricity from renewable energy sources in a future energy system as a balancing and stabilizing flexibility option. They can therefore make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In the PtG-MSE joint project, a power-to-gas test field was set up at the ZBT - Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center in Duisburg as a pilot and demonstration platform on a pilot plant scale of several 10 kW. A detailed analysis of different systems and technology chains was carried out against the background of sector coupling. The three consortium partners LTT, YNCORIS and ZBT cooperated on the project, focusing on plant technology and energy management systems.
The first focus was on the dimensioning, development and construction of plants on the ZBT's H2 test field, dynamic process engineering process modeling and the practical testing of individual systems and system chains. Innovative power-to-gas technologies such as a PEM electrolyser, a direct air capture plant for CO2 extraction from the air and a plant for chemical methanation as well as established technologies such as a photovoltaic system, gas storage, charging stations for electric vehicles, etc. were used in combination. Through holistic networking and digitalization of all systems and the creation of databases, a targeted collection of operating data was established and a central system control was developed.
Parallel to this, the second focus was on the modeling, simulation and analysis of individual plants and system chains, the implementation of forecasting models and the creation and application of different operational management concepts, including the use of a superstructure analysis. Using exemplary scenarios, controllable and non-controllable technology components of a future sector-coupled energy system could be coordinated with each other and thus an increase in the efficiency and ecological benefits of plants could be predicted.
Setting up and operating such a power-to-gas plant network as a combination of innovative and established plants, simulating it dynamically in parallel and subjecting it to energy system optimization from the point of view of sector coupling was a challenging and innovative task that the partners have now successfully completed together. The plant technology installed and the models and methods developed will continue to be available for targeted work on issues relating to power-to-gas and sector coupling.
Department of Fuels and Processes
Contact person:
Dr. Ulrich Gardemann
Group Leader Methane Technologies
u.gardemann(at)zbt.de
Henning Winter
Press and Public Relations
h.winter(at)zbt.de
Project partner:
Funded by:
Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
European Union
