According to their own information, scientists at Stralsund University succeeded in producing methanol directly from hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) for the first time. Electricity from wind energy was used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and the hydrogen was then converted into methanol with carbon dioxide without a buffer storage. The design and construction of the research facility, which will transfer energy production and storage directly from electrolysis to synthesis, took two years.
According to the researchers at the Institute for Renewable Energy Systems (IRES), “the biggest hurdle has now been overcome” for the “use of hydrogen as an energy source in the transport sector and other large economic sectors”. “In this way, we are opening up a new field of application with a global market for hydrogen as an energy source,” explained IRES head Johannes Gulden.
Liquid methanol can be transported and stored safely as an energy source. As a key basic chemical in industry, it can also be used as a fuel for direct combustion in engines and has an “established application” in industry. “Power-to-methanol” has a better CH ratio compared to “power-to-methane”. One less hydrogen atom is required, which reduces the investment costs for electrolysis by 25 percent.
In practice, this means that, thanks to the possibility of problem-free transport of energy via methanol, the electricity from wind power produced in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania can also be used in Bavaria, for example. It is not necessary to adapt the infrastructure because methanol is already used extensively as an established energy source.
“We can succeed in the energy transition if we use the existing and partially unused resources of electricity and carbon dioxide to replace fossil fuels in the existing infrastructure,” explained Christian Schweitzer, Managing Director of BSE Engineering Leipzig GmbH, which is involved in the consortium
Photos:
Johannes Gulden, head of the Institute for Renewable Energy Systems at Stralsund University, and Christian Schweitzer, managing director of BSW Engineering Leipzig GmbH. / © Jane Brückner / Stralsund University
Hello, I see this as the salvation of small farmers. In the near future, all areas will be expropriated for use (habitat network planning), which means that agriculture will no longer be possible. However, the areas must be maintained and the meadow landscapes must be preserved. The growth can be converted into CO2. The necessary hydrogen can then be produced using photovoltaics. On part-time businesses like mine, there is space and opportunities. I have the necessary specialist knowledge in plant engineering, agriculture and creativity. I am interested in this knowledge and possibly a collaboration.
My professional training: coppersmith, ship operations technician, industrial foreman metal, EWS, B.Eng building in existing buildings.
Good evening, how small can the systems be built? I'm thinking here of in-house production for single- and multi-family homes. As we can already see, the excess PV electricity will no longer be able to flow into the grids and therefore it makes sense to produce methanol from this electricity and store it in tanks. If necessary, convert it back into electricity and heat. Are there already companies working on such or similar projects?
Dear Mr. Schlapschy,
There are some manufacturers who have developed small systems for private homes or apartment buildings that generate, store and convert hydrogen back into electricity.
These systems use excess electricity to produce hydrogen, which can then be stored. If necessary, this hydrogen can be converted back into electricity and heat. During the conversion process, the resulting waste heat is often used, which increases the efficiency of the system.
The approach of producing and storing methanol from excess PV electricity can simplify storage, but this is often accompanied by losses in efficiency. Converting electricity into hydrogen and later converting it back into electricity is generally more efficient.
The systems are currently being heavily subsidized, so that they can pay off in conjunction with a large PV system. (RH)