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Renewable energy storage via CO2 and H2 conversion to methane and methanol: Assessment for small scale applications

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  • Moioli, Emanuele
  • Mutschler, Robin
  • Züttel, Andreas

Abstract

This study analyses the power to methane - and to methanol processes in the view of their efficiency in energy storage. A systematic investigation of the differences on the two production systems is performed. The energy storage potential of CO2 to methanol and methane is assessed in a progressive way, from the ideal case to the actual simulated process. In ideal conditions, where no additional energy is required for the reaction and CO2 is fully converted into products, energy storage is 8% more efficient in methanol than methane. However, the Sabatier reaction can be performed with a lower degree of complexity compared to the CO2 to methanol reaction. For this reason, the methanol production process is analysed in detail. The influence of the process configuration and the energy requirements for the various necessary unit operations is investigated, and an efficiency ranking among the various alternatives is obtained. Single stage, recycle and cascade reactors are compared and assessed in terms of energy requirements for the operation and energy storage in the product. For small scale applications, the cascade reactor is the most suitable process technology, because it does not require additional energy and allows high yield to methanol. With the current technology, we demonstrate that a hybrid process, including both the CO2 hydrogenation to methanol and methane, is the most effective method to achieve a high conversion of renewable energy to carbon-based fuels with a significant fraction of liquid product.

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  • Moioli, Emanuele & Mutschler, Robin & Züttel, Andreas, 2019. "Renewable energy storage via CO2 and H2 conversion to methane and methanol: Assessment for small scale applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 497-506.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:107:y:2019:i:c:p:497-506
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2019.03.022
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ghaib, Karim & Ben-Fares, Fatima-Zahrae, 2018. "Power-to-Methane: A state-of-the-art review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 433-446.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Wang, Ligang & Chen, Ming & Küngas, Rainer & Lin, Tzu-En & Diethelm, Stefan & Maréchal, François & Van herle, Jan, 2019. "Power-to-fuels via solid-oxide electrolyzer: Operating window and techno-economics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 174-187.
    3. Kang, Dongseong & Byun, Jaewon & Han, Jee-hoon, 2023. "Environmental impact analysis of steelmaking off-gases on methanol production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    4. Stefan Cristian Galusnyak & Letitia Petrescu & Dora Andreea Chisalita & Calin-Cristian Cormos & Marco Ugolini, 2023. "From Secondary Biomass to Bio-Methanol through CONVERGE Technology: An Environmental Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Lim, Dongjun & Lee, Boreum & Lee, Hyunjun & Byun, Manhee & Lim, Hankwon, 2022. "Projected cost analysis of hybrid methanol production from tri-reforming of methane integrated with various water electrolysis systems: Technical and economic assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    6. Huang, Renxing & Kang, Lixia & Liu, Yongzhong, 2022. "Renewable synthetic methanol system design based on modular production lines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    7. Romeo, Luis M. & Cavana, Marco & Bailera, Manuel & Leone, Pierluigi & Peña, Begoña & Lisbona, Pilar, 2022. "Non-stoichiometric methanation as strategy to overcome the limitations of green hydrogen injection into the natural gas grid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    8. Rodriguez-Pastor, D.A. & Garcia-Guzman, A. & Marqués-Valderrama, I. & Ortiz, C. & Carvajal, E. & Becerra, J.A. & Soltero, V.M. & Chacartegui, R., 2024. "A flexible methanol-to-methane thermochemical energy storage system (TCES) for gas turbine (GT) power production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 356(C).

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