Methane Production via High Temperature Steam Electrolyser from Renewable Wind Energy: A German Study
ABSTRACT
The transformation of the energy supply needs further development of energy storage technologies in order to integrate the fluctuating renewable energy. The conversion of renewable wind power into green methane offers a technical approach with the necessary storage and transport capacities. Thus, the concept of Power-to-Gas which is illustrated here by the coupling of wind energy with a High Temperature Steam Electrolyser (HTSE) and a methanation unit enabling the production of green fuel like hydrogen and methane is presented is this paper. In fact, hydrogen can be used as energy carrier as well for the production of green fuels, like methane which is simpler to store and to transport and which can be thus used as storage medium for the stabilization of the electrical power supply as well as fuel for transport and heat sector. Its production using high temperature electrolysis is able to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions if performed with renewable resources. This is the case if the electricity needed for the HTSE comes from a wind turbine and the CO2 needed for the methanation step comes from biogas. For such a plant, the location and the boundary conditions have a great importance. Thus, this study considers the coupling of a HTSE with a wind turbine and a methanation reactor, and focuses about the site selection, depending of the geographical and economic considerations. The study is limited first to the European area. Schleswig-Holstein is found as a very good location for this plant. It is one of the regions with the largest wind reserves in Germany. This region has also available a lot of biogas and meets all the other necessary requirements.
The transformation of the energy supply needs further development of energy storage technologies in order to integrate the fluctuating renewable energy. The conversion of renewable wind power into green methane offers a technical approach with the necessary storage and transport capacities. Thus, the concept of Power-to-Gas which is illustrated here by the coupling of wind energy with a High Temperature Steam Electrolyser (HTSE) and a methanation unit enabling the production of green fuel like hydrogen and methane is presented is this paper. In fact, hydrogen can be used as energy carrier as well for the production of green fuels, like methane which is simpler to store and to transport and which can be thus used as storage medium for the stabilization of the electrical power supply as well as fuel for transport and heat sector. Its production using high temperature electrolysis is able to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions if performed with renewable resources. This is the case if the electricity needed for the HTSE comes from a wind turbine and the CO2 needed for the methanation step comes from biogas. For such a plant, the location and the boundary conditions have a great importance. Thus, this study considers the coupling of a HTSE with a wind turbine and a methanation reactor, and focuses about the site selection, depending of the geographical and economic considerations. The study is limited first to the European area. Schleswig-Holstein is found as a very good location for this plant. It is one of the regions with the largest wind reserves in Germany. This region has also available a lot of biogas and meets all the other necessary requirements.
Cite this paper
Monnerie, N. , Houaijia, A. , Roeb, M. and Sattler, C. (2015) Methane Production via High Temperature Steam Electrolyser from Renewable Wind Energy: A German Study. Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 5, 70-80. doi: 10.4236/gsc.2015.52010.
Monnerie, N. , Houaijia, A. , Roeb, M. and Sattler, C. (2015) Methane Production via High Temperature Steam Electrolyser from Renewable Wind Energy: A German Study. Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 5, 70-80. doi: 10.4236/gsc.2015.52010.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2010.11.007 [7] (2013) JTI-FCH Project ADEL.
www.adel-energy.eu [8] Varone, A. and Ferrari, M. (2015) Power to Liquid and Power to Gas: An Option for the German Energiewende. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 45, 207-218.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.01.049 [9] Brisse, A., Schefold, J., Stoots, C. and O’Brien, J. (2010) Electrolysis Using Fuel Cell Technology. In: Lehnert, W. and Steinberger-Wilckens, R., Eds., Innovation in Fuel Cell Technologies Editors, RSC Publishing, Cambridge, 263-286. [10] Zahid, M., Schefold, J. and Brisse, A. (2010) High-Temperature Water Electrolysis Using Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology: A Review. In: Stolten, D., Ed., Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, Fundamentals, Technologies and Applications, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 227-242. [11] Udagawa, J., Aguiar, P. and Brandon, N.P. (2007) Hydrogen Production through Steam Electrolysis: Model-Based Steady State Performance of a Cathode Supported Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell. Journal of Power Sources, 166, 127-136.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2006.12.081 [12] Houaijia, A., Roeb, M., Monnerie, N. and Sattler, C. (2013) Process Design and Dynamic Simulation of Solar Hydrogen Production via Intermediate Temperature Steam Electrolysis in IRES. Berlin. [13] Müller, K., Fleige, M., Rachow, F. and Schmeiber, D. (2013) Sabatier Based CO2-Methanation of Flue Gas Emitted by Conventional Power Plants. Energy Procedia, 40, 240-248.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2013.08.028 [14] Monnerie, N., Roeb, M., Houaijia, A. and Sattler, C. (2014) Coupling of Wind Energy and Biogas with a High Temperature Steam Eleectrolyser for Hydrogen and Methane Production. Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 4, 60-69.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/gsc.2014.42010 [15] (1989) The European Wind Atlas, Roskilde. Riso National Laboratory, Roskilde. [16] http://www.wind-power-program.com/turbine_characteristics.htm [17] http://www.wind-energy-the-facts.org/the-annual-variability-of-wind-speed.html [18] (2013)
www.eurobserv-er.org [19] Trieb, F., Müller-Steinhagena, H., Kernb, J., Scharfec, J., Kabaritid, M. and Al Taherd, A. (2009) Technologies for Large Scale Seawater Desalination Using Concentrated Solar Radiation. Desalination, 235, 33-43.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2007.04.098 [20] (2013)
http://www.powertogas.info/power-to-gas/gas-speichern.html [21] (2013)
www.dwd.de [22] Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), A.A. Zentrum für Agrarmeteorologische Forschung Braunschweig (ZAMF)]. [23] (2013).
http://www.schleswig-holstein.de/UmweltLandwirtschaft/DE/ImmissionKlima/05_Erneuerbare_Energien/ein_node.html
[1] Beerepoot, M. and Marmion, A. (2012) Policies for Renewable Heat: An Integral Approach. OECD/IEA, Paris. [2] IEA (2007) Mind the Gap: Quantifying Principal-Agent Problems in Energy Efficiency. OECD/IEA, Paris. [3] BMU (2010) Nationaler Biomasseaktionsplan für Deutschland, Beitrag der Biomasse für eine nachhaltige Energie-versorgung, R.K.I. BMU, BMELV Referat N2, Editor 2010. [4] Mai, T., Sandor, D., Wiser, R. and Schneider, T. (2012) Renewable Electricity Futures Study: Executive Summary, C.N.R.E.L. NREL/TP-6A20-52409-ES. Golden. [5] Pfaffel, S., Berkhout, V., Faulstich, S., Kühn, P., Linke, K., Lyding, P. and Rothkegel, R. (2012) Windenergie Report Deutschland, F.I.f.W.u.E. IWES. [6] Green, R., Hu, H. and Vasilakos, N. (2011) Turning the Wind into Hydrogen: The Long-Run Impact on Electricity Prices and Generating Capacity. Energy Policy, 39, 3992-3998.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2010.11.007 [7] (2013) JTI-FCH Project ADEL.
www.adel-energy.eu [8] Varone, A. and Ferrari, M. (2015) Power to Liquid and Power to Gas: An Option for the German Energiewende. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 45, 207-218.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.01.049 [9] Brisse, A., Schefold, J., Stoots, C. and O’Brien, J. (2010) Electrolysis Using Fuel Cell Technology. In: Lehnert, W. and Steinberger-Wilckens, R., Eds., Innovation in Fuel Cell Technologies Editors, RSC Publishing, Cambridge, 263-286. [10] Zahid, M., Schefold, J. and Brisse, A. (2010) High-Temperature Water Electrolysis Using Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology: A Review. In: Stolten, D., Ed., Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, Fundamentals, Technologies and Applications, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 227-242. [11] Udagawa, J., Aguiar, P. and Brandon, N.P. (2007) Hydrogen Production through Steam Electrolysis: Model-Based Steady State Performance of a Cathode Supported Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell. Journal of Power Sources, 166, 127-136.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2006.12.081 [12] Houaijia, A., Roeb, M., Monnerie, N. and Sattler, C. (2013) Process Design and Dynamic Simulation of Solar Hydrogen Production via Intermediate Temperature Steam Electrolysis in IRES. Berlin. [13] Müller, K., Fleige, M., Rachow, F. and Schmeiber, D. (2013) Sabatier Based CO2-Methanation of Flue Gas Emitted by Conventional Power Plants. Energy Procedia, 40, 240-248.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2013.08.028 [14] Monnerie, N., Roeb, M., Houaijia, A. and Sattler, C. (2014) Coupling of Wind Energy and Biogas with a High Temperature Steam Eleectrolyser for Hydrogen and Methane Production. Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 4, 60-69.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/gsc.2014.42010 [15] (1989) The European Wind Atlas, Roskilde. Riso National Laboratory, Roskilde. [16] http://www.wind-power-program.com/turbine_characteristics.htm [17] http://www.wind-energy-the-facts.org/the-annual-variability-of-wind-speed.html [18] (2013)
www.eurobserv-er.org [19] Trieb, F., Müller-Steinhagena, H., Kernb, J., Scharfec, J., Kabaritid, M. and Al Taherd, A. (2009) Technologies for Large Scale Seawater Desalination Using Concentrated Solar Radiation. Desalination, 235, 33-43.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2007.04.098 [20] (2013)
http://www.powertogas.info/power-to-gas/gas-speichern.html [21] (2013)
www.dwd.de [22] Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), A.A. Zentrum für Agrarmeteorologische Forschung Braunschweig (ZAMF)]. [23] (2013).
http://www.schleswig-holstein.de/UmweltLandwirtschaft/DE/ImmissionKlima/05_Erneuerbare_Energien/ein_node.html