PowertoGasVerfahren

Power to Gas (PtG) Verfahren, also known as Power-to-Gas processes, are technologies that convert surplus electrical energy into gaseous energy carriers. These processes are primarily driven by renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, which often produce electricity intermittently. The core idea is to utilize periods of high electricity generation and low demand to produce storable and transportable fuels.

The most common Power to Gas technologies involve electrolysis. In this process, electricity is used to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. This produced hydrogen can then be used directly as a fuel or further processed. One significant pathway is methanation, where hydrogen reacts with carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce methane, the main component of natural gas. This synthetic methane can then be injected into the existing natural gas grid, effectively storing renewable energy in a familiar infrastructure. Other PtG concepts include the synthesis of other synthetic fuels like methanol or ammonia, which also serve as energy carriers.

The primary goal of Power to Gas Verfahren is to address the intermittency of renewable energy. By converting excess electricity into storable gases, PtG contributes to grid stability and enables a higher penetration of renewables into the energy mix. It also offers a solution for decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify directly, such as heavy transport or industrial heat, by providing renewable hydrogen or synthetic methane. However, challenges remain, including the energy efficiency of the conversion processes and the cost-competitiveness compared to conventional fuels.