Large-scale transport of renewable energy via hydrogen and derivates

Abstract

One option on the way towards climate neutrality in Europe is the import of electricity-based hydrogen derivatives from countries with high wind and solar power potential. The technologies required for converting renewable electricity are already available in the form of water electrolysis, synthesis gas production, methane, methanol, ammonia or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and are used on industrial scale, although primarily based on fossil fuels. Comparing the cost-benefit ratio of these Power-to-X (PtX) products needs to consider - The availability of raw materials for converting renewable electricity into PtX products (water, renewable carbon or nitrogen), - The conversion efficiency and costs of large-scale plants in the countries of origin, - Large-scale ship transport, local conversion into the final end products and use in the recipient countries. PtX concepts for the defossilization of industry and transport have been examined and evaluated in detail at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The focus is on the detailed process simulation of the industry-scale processes using commercial process flow diagram simulation software, the determination of the relevant process parameters and the identification of possible cost reduction options. PtX production processes are optimized by internal recycles and heat integration and evaluated techno-economically using the DLR tool TEPET (Techno-Economic Process Evaluation Tool). In addition to the calculation and optimization of the energy efficiency, the major performance indicators are the manufacturing, transport and reconversion costs. The cost reduction potential and the import potential compared to the demand of PtX products and renewable energy that can theoretically be produced in countries with high wind and solar power potential using PtX processes. The methodology for the techno-economic evaluation of the PtX concepts and the benefits of the TEPET evaluation tool will be presented, as well as evaluation results for the production of various PtX import options.