(Kassel) – An interactive atlas shows the global potential for Power-to-X applications for the first time. The researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE have compiled and analyzed the global location conditions for the production of green hydrogen as well as for regeneratively produced synthetic fuels. The aim of the project is to “scientifically examine development paths in the transport sector that are compatible with the federal government’s climate policy goals in feedback with other sectors of the energy system,” according to the institute. 
The scientists concentrated on locations outside the European economic area.
In the Power-to-X Atlas, for example, area resources and weather conditions are taken into account and brought together, as are factors such as local water availability, nature conservation or investment security. Data about regional solar radiation and wind power potential can be accessed at the click of a mouse - for example to estimate the yield of photovoltaic and CSP systems as well as wind farms. In a presentation, Maximilian Pfennig from Fraunhofer IEE, who developed the atlas, showed that interested parties “among other things, the areas that are suitable for PtX, the full load hours that can be achieved regionally and possible production quantities, the respective production costs for the various PtX energy sources and the costs for their transport to Europe”.
Potential for 109.000 terawatt hours of liquid green hydrogen
According to the analysis, outside Europe, a total of around 109.000 terawatt hours of liquid green hydrogen or 87.000 terawatt hours (TWh) of synthetic fuels (Power to Liquids, PtL) could be produced in the long term. According to the Fraunhofer IEE, the overall existing potential can only be partially exploited, for example “because in some places there is not sufficient investment security or because the necessary infrastructure is missing”.
But even taking these factors into account, the realizable potential is still 69.100 TWh hydrogen or 57.000 TWh PtL. According to forecasts, by 2050 “at least 6.700 terawatt hours of PtL would be required for global aviation and 4.500 terawatt hours of PtL for global shipping traffic.” This would leave sufficient scope for further hydrogen applications in the traffic and transportation segments.
Generate fuel on site
Another finding: It is often more cost-effective to produce fuel for the European market directly where the green hydrogen is produced instead of transporting it to Europe first, according to the researchers. In order to transport hydrogen over long distances, it has to be liquefied, which consumes a lot of energy and causes costs. In addition, there are evaporation losses of the liquid gases during transport.
Low generation costs with solar and wind
Locations with good conditions for the use of wind energy and photovoltaics naturally have the lowest generation costs. Countries like the USA and Australia could supply large quantities of PtX energy sources. However, domestic demand is likely to be particularly high in the USA, not least because some truck manufacturers there are entering the market with new trucks for long-haul routes, which in turn is encouraging electrolyser manufacturers to build up a refueling infrastructure. And in Australia they like to orient themselves towards the Asian region, especially through cooperation with Japanese car manufacturers (we reported several times). Last but not least, the scientists suspect that it would “not make economic sense” to export green hydrogen from these countries to Europe.
While the Federal Research Ministry recently presented Africa as part of its own Project as a possible future “energy supplier of the world”, the Fraunhofer IEE puts this assessment into perspective. Countries close to Europe, such as Egypt or Libya, would “in principle be able to supply large volumes of PtX – and also green gaseous hydrogen, since the transport routes are comparatively short”. However, “the socio-economic conditions”, higher investment risks and thus also financing costs reduced the likelihood “that PtX projects would be implemented there on a large scale”.
Great potential in many regions of the world
Nevertheless, in many regions of the world and depending on the location, large quantities of PtX energy sources could be produced and exported regeneratively in the long term, said Norman Gerhardt during the presentation. The head of energy economics and systems analysis at Fraunhofer IEE emphasized that, in his opinion, “despite the great potential, green hydrogen and green synthetic fuels can only ever be complementary.” Increasing energy efficiency and the direct use of renewable electricity “must always be a priority”.
The PtX Atlas was funded by the Federal Environment Ministry as part of the DeVKopSys project.
The PtX Atlas will be freely usable online and interactively from June 1st at
https://devkopsys.de/ptx-atlas/
IEE events for the introduction of the PtX Atlas
June 1, 2021, 11.30:13.00 a.m. - XNUMX:XNUMX p.m
Expert session for politics, associations and business. Speakers: Christian Hochfeld, Director Agora Verkehrswende, Torsten Schwab, Director PtX Hub (GIZ), as well as Norman Gerhardt, Maximilian Pfennig and Jochen Bard from Fraunhofer IEE. Registration:
https://www.eniq.fraunhofer.de/de/veranstaltungen0/power-to-x.html
June 2, 2021, 10.00:11.00 a.m. - XNUMX:XNUMX p.m
Presentation of the atlas for scientists and the interested public. Registration:
https://www.eniq.fraunhofer.de/de/veranstaltungen0/power-to-x1.html
deep link
https://s.fhg.de/ptx-atlas
Photos)
Location analysis: Screenshot PtX Atlas / © Fraunhofer IEE
Class schedule
Production costs and cumulative production volume of globally investigated coastal locations for the production of liquid hydrogen using low-temperature PEM electrolysis © Fraunhofer IEE
