In some countries, like Germany, Spain and Denmark, a lot of electrical energy is produced by intermittent energy sources (wind turbines, solar panels). It is hard to accommodate the excess of energy and usually wind turbines must be turned off wasting their time. Currently available energy storage solutions like batteries are expensive on this scale, direct storage of electricity is expensive and troublesome. One of the possible solutions is to produce hydrogen through the electrolysis process that might be then injected into the national gas grid. In this way energy is stored in the produced gas. As reported by a Thuga and ITM Power companies, in Germany there is enough capacity in the gas grid to store of the excess energy coming from wind in the next years. This processes, generally called Power-to-Gas (P2G) are becoming a very hot topic. The first demonstration pland started working in Germany on 4th December 2014 and is now fully operational. It is based on a 360 kW PEM electrolysis cell operating at 80 bars. Though for now it is a relatively small plant, it is an excellent demonstration of the technological potential.
One of the reasons I find this topic interesting is that the SOFCs, when operated as electrolysis cells offer high efficiency advantages and are also planned to be deployed for P2G applications in the future.
Definitely due to attractiveness of the technology, we should see new plants being commissioned in the developed countries.
Link to the company delivering the PEM technology
Link to the info about the first P2G plant
One of the reasons I find this topic interesting is that the SOFCs, when operated as electrolysis cells offer high efficiency advantages and are also planned to be deployed for P2G applications in the future.
Definitely due to attractiveness of the technology, we should see new plants being commissioned in the developed countries.
Link to the company delivering the PEM technology
Link to the info about the first P2G plant
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