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Neue Veröffentlichung herausgegeben
Wir möchten Sie darauf aufmerksam machen, dass wir eine neue Veröffentlichung mit dem Titel: „The environmental impact of renewable hydrogen supply chains: Local vs. remote production and long-distance hydrogen transport“ herausgegeben haben.

Abstract

As a secondary energy source, hydrogen produced by water electrolysis is a promising way to sustainably use electricity generated from primary renewable resources. Thereby, hydrogen is not only a highly relevant feedstock for producing chemical products, such as fertilizers and platform chemicals, but also a valuable energy carrier that can be readily transported and stored. This study explores how transporting renewable hydrogen via pipeline from regions with high renewable energy potential to large consumer centers can help overcome current challenges in ensuring a climate-friendly renewable energy supply. To this end, this work assesses the environmental impacts of cross-border hydrogen supply chains relative to the attained operating hours of local hydrogen production and the required hydrogen transport distance via pipeline. Environmental hotspots along the hydrogen supply chain and the main parameters affecting the overall environmental impact were identified. Remarkably, an environmental trade-off emerges: the most suitable local conditions for producing renewable hydrogen need to be balanced against the distance of hydrogen transport to consumers. Nonetheless, the relevance of the transport distance decreases with an increasing share of renewable energies in the electricity mix for operating the compressor stations of the pipeline network. Considering the ongoing transition towards renewable power generation technologies, our results indicate that long-distance hydrogen transport via pipeline is environmentally justified provided that the share of renewable energies used to operate the compressor stations increases.




Neue Veröffentlichung herausgegeben
Wir möchten Sie darauf aufmerksam machen, dass wir eine neue Veröffentlichung mit dem Titel: „Efficiency and optimal load capacity of E-Fuel-Based energy storage systems“ herausgegeben haben.

Abstract

This work evaluates the effectiveness of chemical-based solutions for storing large amounts of renewable electricity. Four “Power-to-X-to-Power” pathways are examined, comprising hydrogen, methane, methanol, and ammonia as energy carriers. The pathways are assessed using a model scenario, where they are produced with electricity from an onshore wind farm, stored in suitable facilities, and then reconverted to electricity to meet the energy demand of a chemical site. An energy management and storage capacity estimation tool is used to calculate the annual load coverage resulting from each pathway. All four pathways offer a significant increase in load coverage compared to a scenario without storage solution (56.19%). The hydrogen-based pathway has the highest load coverage (71.88%) and round-trip efficiency (36.93%), followed by the ammonia-based (69.62%,31.37%), methanol-based (67.85%,27.00%), and methane-based (67.64%,26.47%, respectively) pathways. The substantially larger storage capacity required for gaseous energy carriers to ensure a steady supply to the consumer could be a decisive factor. The hydrogen pathway requires a storage volume up to 10.93 times larger than ammonia and 16.87 times larger than methanol. Notably, ammonia and methanol, whose load coverages are only 2.26 and 4.03 percentage points lower than that of hydrogen, offer the possibility of implementing site-specific storage solutions, avoiding potential bottlenecks due to limited pipeline and cavern capacities.




Neue Veröffentlichung herausgegeben
Wir möchten Sie darauf aufmerksam machen, dass wir eine neue Veröffentlichung mit dem Titel: „Hydrogen transport in large-scale transmission pipeline networks: Thermodynamic and environmental assessment of repurposed and new pipeline configurations“ herausgegeben haben.

Abstract

One key strategy to achieve global climate targets is implementing climate-friendly hydrogen as a versatile energy carrier, commodity, and feedstock in the most energy-intensive sectors. Transmission pipeline networks are suited particularly for connecting primary hydrogen producers and consumers over medium distances to meet the future hydrogen demand in regions that strongly rely on energy imports. Nonetheless, the development and operation of large-scale hydrogen pipeline networks may have various yet unknown impacts on the environment. This work investigates the energetic efficiency and the environmental performance of hydrogen transport via pipeline by means of thermodynamic analysis and life cycle assessment. Pertinent technical specifications for large-scale hydrogen pipeline networks were derived based on the current design of state-of-the-art hydrogen pipelines and compressor stations. Since the energy-efficient operation of the pipeline network is essential for a climate-friendly hydrogen transport, thermodynamic analyses were performed to determine the resulting energy demand. Depending on the impact category considered, there are advantages and trade-offs in aiming for an energy-efficient as well as environmentally friendly hydrogen transport solution. The most decisive parameters to reach these aims are the condition of the line pipe’s inner layer, the applied load capacity, as well as the compression ratios, -stages and -positioning. By varying these parameters and considering multiple transport variants, we recommend three measures for the design and operation of new or repurposed hydrogen pipelines: 1) Installing new smooth line pipes or cleaning existing ones to minimize the roughness of the inner surface; 2) Moderately reducing the load capacity, and 3) Shortening the transport intervals by installing intermediate compressor stations. Ultimately, reducing pressure losses within the pipeline system is crucial for ensuring an energetically efficient as well as environmentally friendly hydrogen transmission via large-scale pipeline networks.




Neue Veröffentlichung herausgegeben
Wir möchten Sie darauf aufmerksam machen, dass wir eine neue Veröffentlichung mit dem Titel: „Green, Turquoise, Blue, or Grey? Environmentally friendly Hydrogen Production in Transforming Energy Systems“ herausgegeben haben.

Abstract

Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier and feedstock alike for decarbonizing the energy, transport, and chemical sector and mitigating the effects of global warming. Identifying and realizing environmentally friendly hydrogen production pathways is, however, significantly impeded by the need for step-wise transformation of national energy systems. This paper reviews the current level of hydrogen production technology development. Nine process configurations based on four different process technologies were considered comprising steam methane reforming, steam methane reforming with carbon capture and storage, methane pyrolysis and polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis. Hydrogen from these technologies is often associated with the respective colors grey, blue, turquoise, and green. The critical comparison of the technologies is objectified and quantified based on the methodology of life cycle assessment. For this purpose, the environmental impacts of the hydrogen production technologies are gathered and the most promising solutions with respect to the progressing energy transition identified thereby differentiating the approaches for their short, medium-, and long-term benefit. By considering sixteen impact categories, both, environmental co-benefits and burden shifting resulting from the transition to more climate-friendly hydrogen production technologies were taken into account. The environmental impact of the hydrogen production technologies was found to be determined to large extend by the underlying electricity and natural gas supply chains. Anticipating technology shifts and taking regional differences and future advances in national supply chains into account, technology recommendations deviate substantially for the countries considered.




CSC am SUMMIT Umweltwirtschaft.NRW 2022
Gemäß dem Motto des SUMMITS "Wie schaffen wir die Klima-, Ressourcen- & Mobilitätswende in dieser Dekade?" entwickelt CSC mit führenden Industriepartnern innovative chemische Verfahren und zeigt mit seinen Arbeiten die Relevanz für die Umsetzung einer "Green Economy".




Neue Veröffentlichung herausgegeben
Wir möchten Sie darauf aufmerksam machen, dass wir eine neue Veröffentlichung mit dem Titel: „Solvent Effect in Catalytic Lignin Hydrogenolysis“ herausgegeben haben.

Abstract

The solvent effect in the catalytic depolymerization of the three-dimensional network of lignin is discussed based on recent reports in this field. Also, the results of an experimental study on the depolymerization of kraft lignin are presented. The cleavage of ether bonds within the lignin network was promoted using ruthenium and platinum on activated carbon (Ru/C and Pt/C), two common hydrogenolysis catalysts. Methanol was identified as a suitable solvent. Noteworthy, under the chosen reaction conditions, the catalysts showed significant resilience to the sulfur present in kraft lignin. The conversion of kraft lignin to lignin oil was strongly affected by the reaction conditions. Although the Ru/C catalyst provided the highest yield at supercritical conditions, a maximum yield was obtained for the Pt/C catalyst at near-critical conditions. The formation of guaiacol, 4-alkylguaiacols, isoeugenol, and 4-ethyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol is attributed to the solubility of oligomeric lignin fragments in the solvent and the relative propensity of specific groups to adsorb on the catalyst surface.




Zweite Konferenz "der Wasserstoffmotor" in Karlsruhe
Am 13. und 14.September 2021 fand unsere mit Spannung erwartete 2. Konferenz "der Wasserstoffmotor" in Karlsruhe-Durlach statt. Dazu waren nahezu alle Referenten der Konferenz in einem Tagungsraum in Karlsruhe versammelt. Coronabedingt wurden die Vorträge den Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern per online-stream live präsentiert. Über den Online-Chat und spezielle Online-Moderatoren gab es ebenfalls die wichtige Möglichkeit für Rückfragen und Diskussionsbeiträge der Teilnehmenden, welche rege genutzt wurde.

Die Defossilisierung der Energiewirtschaft und der Mobilität wird von Gesellschaft und Politik gleichermaßen eingefordert. Der New Green Deal der EU ist in seinen genauen Auswirkungen noch nicht bekannt. Neben der Elektromobilität und synthetischen Kohlenwasserstoffen verbleibt Wasserstoff als zielführende Technologielösung, vor allem für den Nutzfahrzeugsektor.

Der Wasserstoffmotor bietet das Potential, zeitnah verfügbar eine attraktive Lösung darzustellen. Herausforderungen des Wasserstoffmotors sind vor allem die politische und gesellschaftliche Akzeptanz, geringste Restemissionen, die Tanksystemwechselwirkung mit der Gemischaufbereitung sowie eine weitere Wirkungsgradsteigerung.

So wurden neben motorischen Themen der Wasserstoffeinblasung, Energieumsetzung und Komponentenentwicklung auf der Veranstaltung Fragestellungen der Abgasnachbehandlung, Wasserstoffversorgung, politischen Förderung, Wasserstofftechnologie und gesellschaftlichen Randbedingungen besprochen und diskutiert.

Die große Resonanz an der zweitägigen Veranstaltung untermauerte erneut die Aktualität der Thematik und deren Relevanz.


Den Originalartikel des Karlsruher Institut für Technologie finden Sie hier.



2. Online-Tagung der ProcessNet Fachgruppe Energieverfahrenstechnik
Energiewirtschaft und chemische Industrie stehen derzeit an einem entscheidenden Wendepunkt, an dem der Einsatz fossiler Brennstoffe durch die Verwendung regenerativer Energiequellen und nachhaltiger Energiespeicher abgelöst wird. Die nachhaltige Gewinnung von Strom und der Einsatz von Wasserstoff als Energieträger und chemischer Grundbaustein stellen die Industrie vor neue Herausforderungen. Wie lassen sich zukünftige Power-to-X Technologien unter diesen Bedingungen zur Anwendung bringen? Dieses Thema soll, unterstützt durch Impulsvorträge, in der zweiten online-Tagung der Fachgruppe Energieverfahrenstechnik diskutiert werden.

Weitere Informationen zur Veranstaltung finden Sie unter Events.



Neue Veröffentlichung herausgegeben
Wir möchten Sie darauf aufmerksam machen, dass wir eine neue Veröffentlichung mit dem Titel: „Promising pathways: The geographic and energetic potential of power-to-x technologies based on regeneratively obtained hydrogen“ herausgegeben haben.

Abstract

In light of advancing climate change, environmentally-friendly methods for generating renewable energy are being employed to an increasing extent. This use, however, leads to rising spatial and temporal disbalances between electricity generation and consumption. To address the associated challenges, Power-to-X technologies are considered to harness surplus electricity from renewable sources and convert it into an alternative energy source that can be utilized, transported and stored. The aim of this paper is to compare four different Power-to-X technologies, whereby surplus electricity “Power” is converted to chemical entities “X”. It is shown that the implementation of PtX technologies and a shift of energy distribution to other transport methods could significantly relieve the electricity grid. Moreover, by converting the electricity from renewable sources, like wind farms, into chemical energy sources, the PtX concept offers the opportunity of making larger quantities of energy storable over longer periods of time. By considering a model case where electricity generation and consumption are several hundred kilometres apart, the generation of fuels emerges as a technology with the highest potential to mitigate climate change. Also with regard to transport, fuels emerge as the most favourable option for transporting chemically bound energy. Common to all options is the yield of a significant stream of oxygen as by-product. Utilizing this oxygen may be one of the key factors towards improving the economic viability of Power-to-X technologies.