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Power to gas plant of the Thüga Group has exceeded all expectations

Published
  • Project platform for exploring electricity-to-gas (SzG) technology in the Thüga Group successfully completed
  • Important findings have been gathered and scientifically validated over the past five years of project work
  • SzG and gas distribution grids are an integral part of the energy transition
  • Politicians must create appropriate framework conditions

Frankfurt/Munich 08/08/2017: The Thüga Group's project phase to explore electricity-to-gas storage technology has been successfully completed. "Reversible storage systems are an important component of the energy transition. The technology enables surplus wind or solar power to be utilised in the best possible way. We were able to clearly demonstrate that the joint system has passed all load tests in the past three years of practical operation. The technology has provided many insights for further utilisation," said a delighted Dr Constantin H. Alsheimer, CEO of Mainova AG. When the plant was commissioned on Mainova's premises in Frankfurt in 2014, it was the world's first demonstration plant to convert electricity into hydrogen and feed it into the municipal gas distribution network. The aim of electricity-to-gas or power-to-gas technologies is to convert surplus electricity from renewable sources into gas for use in the heating, mobility or power generation market.

In the project, 13 Thüga Group companies pooled their expertise and jointly invested in the development of electricity-to-gas storage technology. The focus was on testing its suitability for practical use. From the project partners' point of view, the electricity-to-gas technology has proven that it fulfils the necessary requirements for practical use. During live operation, the system was interconnected with wind and solar plants, a combined heat and power plant (CHP) and electricity consumption using computer simulation in a virtual smart grid. According to the project partners, the technology has thus also proven itself as a component of intelligent grid structures.

"The system has exceeded our expectations, particularly in terms of efficiency. In its relevant load range between 50 and around 325 kilowatts, the entire system - from electricity extraction to gas feed-in - achieves an efficiency of up to 77 per cent, based on the calorific value," emphasises Michael Riechel, Chairman of the Management Board of Thüga Aktiengesellschaft. "We were also able to prove that electricity-to-gas technology is also suitable in principle for use in the primary control energy market. The great commitment of our colleagues at Mainova played a decisive role in enabling us to achieve these results." More than 1,300 visitors have seen the advantages of electricity-to-gas technology for themselves over the past few months.

SzG and gas distribution grids are an integral part of the energy transition

From the project partners' point of view, the following economic and energy-related reasons speak in favour of a smart combination of SzG technology and gas distribution grids:

  • The necessary gas network infrastructure as a storage medium is available
  • Only the gas grid has the capacity to cover the enormous overall storage requirements of the energy transition
  • A large proportion of the storage requirements existing in 2020 can already be covered by converting electricity into hydrogen and feeding it into the gas distribution grid
  • Virtually unlimited storage capacity is created by additional methanisation of the hydrogen produced
  • Coupling the electricity sector with the gas sector via the SzG technology leads to significant relief for the electricity grids and reduces their need for expansion

Decarbonisation of various sectors possible via SzG

The project partners feel confirmed in their view by the latest study by management consultants enervis. This has analysed various paths to sector coupling, i.e. the networking of electricity and heat by 2050. The study focussed on the topics of costs and security of supply. Two key findings are that, firstly, natural gas is the most cost-efficient CO2avoidance option for heat and, by 2050 and beyond, a cost-effective CO2-energy source for backup power plants. And secondly, that a decarbonised world with a conversion from electricity to gas can be economically more favourable than a world without gas.

Politicians must create appropriate framework conditions

"Anyone who fails to take SzG technology into account as part of the decarbonisation of electricity generation, the heating market and the mobility market is blocking the future of what is currently the most promising long-term storage solution and hindering the energy transition," emphasises Mainova CEO Dr Constantin H. Alsheimer. In the opinion of the 13 project partners, the new German government is called upon to present a coherent concept for the development of SzG technology. In concrete terms, the focus is on three points: For market implementation, politicians should launch targeted funding programmes with the aim of reducing costs and further increasing efficiency. Furthermore, a joint network development plan for the network infrastructures (electricity/gas) should be created and an integrated cost analysis of the overall system should be carried out. "Hydrogen and methane from renewable energies must be recognised as biofuels, which will open up additional sales channels for operators," says Michael Riechel, formulating the third demand.

Source: PM Thüga Aktiengesellschaft


Keywords: Stakeholders, DE-News, Energy storage, Renewable, Research, Climate protection, Mobility, Environmental policy, Ecology

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Solar Cluster Baden-Württemberg calls for considerable improvements to the draft bill
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Solar Cluster Baden-Württemberg calls for considerable improvements to the draft bill

This week, the Federal Cabinet intends to approve the draft bill for the coal phase-out law. However, the timetable for the shutdown of coal-fired power plants to be voted on deviates in several places from the coal compromise reached last year. The Baden-Württemberg Solar Cluster has pointed this out and is calling for significant improvements. According to the draft law, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced significantly less than agreed in the first ten years: By 2030, only five gigawatts of power are to be switched off instead of 20 gigawatts. In addition, the number of CO2 certificates will not be reduced to the same extent as coal-fired power generation. "This violates the spirit of the coal compromise and must be corrected," says Solar Cluster Managing Director Franz Pöter. The renewed blockade of renewable energies - despite announcements to the contrary - must also come to an end, says Pöter. The draft bill does not include the lifting of the 52 gigawatt cap, which prevents the expansion of photovoltaics. The 1,000 metre distance regulation is a similar obstacle to the expansion of wind power generation.

The draft from the Federal Ministry of Economics is intended to legally implement the coal compromise that was painstakingly reached with associations and industry. There is not only criticism of the content: "We had 22 hours to formulate a statement," criticises Pöter. "A discussion was probably not wanted." In the view of the industry association, the CO2 reduction in the first ten years, for example, is far too low: it falls well short of the agreement in the coal compromise. According to the compromise, ten million tonnes of CO2 are to be avoided each year. This corresponds to a reduction of around two gigawatts of coal-fired power plant capacity. However, the draft only contains 0.5 gigawatts per year, a quarter of what was originally agreed.

"It is unacceptable for politicians to draft a coal phase-out law that exceeds the financial framework of the coal compromise and yet only implements a small part of the agreed CO2 reduction," criticises Pöter. If the draft becomes law, Germany will emit around 40 million tonnes more CO2 by 2030 - a major burden for the climate target.

Surplus of CO2 certificates looms, electricity price does not fall, renewables are hindered

Not all CO2 allowances from the shutdown power plants are to be removed from the market either. The resulting surplus would depress the CO2 price in the emissions trading system in future. This would allow the remaining coal-fired power plants to operate profitably on the market more often and thus emit more greenhouse gas. Furthermore, electricity prices are not to fall after all. In any case, this is no longer mandatory in the draft. This also has a negative impact on the energy transition: The conversion of a coal-fired power plant operated by Uniper to a more climate-friendly gas-fired power plant has been rejected. The argument: 2,000 jobs would be affected.

The curbing of the coal phase-out is also associated with a blockade of renewable energies. They are actually supposed to replace the electricity generation from coal-fired units that is being phased out. "Despite promises to the contrary, the 52-gigawatt cap on photovoltaics has still not been abolished," criticises Franz Pöter. "Many photovoltaic projects have been cancelled or at best postponed in recent months due to the unclear legal situation." Wind energy is not faring any better: the 1,000 metre distance regulation between wind turbines and residential areas poses a further obstacle to the expansion of wind power generation. The target formulated by the German government of generating 65 per cent of electricity from renewable energies by 2030 cannot be achieved with these restrictions. What is needed is a doubling of installed capacity by 2030 - that would mean 100 gigawatts of wind energy and 100 gigawatts of photovoltaics.

False arguments Jobs and system security

The current framework conditions have consequences for the domestic wind industry in particular, which has already lost around 35,000 jobs since 2017 - that is far more than all current jobs in the lignite industry combined. Photovoltaics suffered a similar fate a few years earlier, with 75,000 jobs lost. However, the future potential for jobs in the photovoltaic and wind energy sectors remains high compared to the coal industry. "It is therefore disproportionate to block the restructuring of the energy supply with reference to jobs in the coal industry," continued Pöter. "A smart industrial and economic policy for the energies of the future is urgently needed."

The energy system security argument does not go far either: despite a green electricity share of almost 43 per cent on average in 2019 and a 65 per cent share over two weeks in March 2019, grid stability has continued to increase in recent years. This is demonstrated by the historically low number of grid outages in 2018, with the Federal Network Agency confirming that the energy transition has not yet had any impact on system stability. The electricity grids can also be kept stable with a higher proportion of renewable energy. "The claim that we have to deviate from the coal compromise in order to guarantee system security cannot be substantiated with facts," says Pöter. "But it is fuelling fear among the population and industry. These unfounded statements are irresponsible and economically damaging."

---------------- Info box ----------------
Six demands of the Solar Cluster Baden-Württemberg e.V.

The draft bill for the Coal Phase-out Act must contain the following points:

- The CO2 reduction path agreed in the coal compromise must be adhered to. The shutdown dates for coal-fired power plants must therefore not be delayed and the residual electricity volumes must not be increased.

- CO2 certificates to the extent of the shutdown power plants must be withdrawn from the market.

- The state must not prevent the market-driven conversion of coal-fired power plants to gas-fired power plants.

- It must be possible to reduce electricity prices by refinancing the EEG levy on a pro rata basis within the framework of the 40 billion euros.

- The 52 gigawatt cap for photovoltaics must be removed immediately, and the 1,000 metre distance regulation for wind must not be adopted.

- Jobs in the solar and wind sectors must not be jeopardised in favour of coal-fired power generation.

Source: Press release of the Solar Cluster Baden-Württemberg from 27 January 2020



Keywords:
DE-News, Renewable, Funding, Climate protection, News Blog Baden-Württemberg, PV, Environmental policy, Ecology

Meeting the housing shortage ecologically - renovation of existing buildings is the key to more affordable housing and climate protection
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Meeting the housing shortage ecologically - renovation of existing buildings is the key to more affordable housing and climate protection

The housing shortage is an immense social problem in many large cities and conurbations. At the same time, the building sector has been failing to meet its environmental and climate targets for years. In a recent position paper, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and the Commission for Sustainable Building at the UBA (KNBau) have examined how more affordable housing can be created without unnecessarily harming the environment and health. According to this paper, the most important factor for more environmental protection in housing construction is that the existing building stock is preserved wherever possible or is sensibly converted and repurposed. This is the easiest way to avoid climate emissions and unnecessarily high consumption of raw materials. Today, UBA President Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner presented KNBau's proposals to Federal Minister of Building Klara Geywitz and Federal Minister of the Environment Steffi Lemke in Berlin.

Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke: "Water scarcity and heat as a result of the climate crisis are putting our cities and their inhabitants under stress. What we need are climate-resilient cities with a cleverly planned blue and green infrastructure of water and urban greenery for nature and human recreation. When it comes to much-needed housing, we can at the same time protect the environment andClimateprotect: In view of the enormous demand for resources in the building sector, we must think housing creation, resource conservation and climate adaptation together. If new housing is created primarily in inner cities and on brownfield sites, and existing buildings are renovated and converted, this saves energy, waste and greenhouse gases and reduces land consumption."

Klara Geywitz, Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building: "Building andClimate protectionmust always be thought of together and socially. To forego climate standards today when building - whether it is a conversion, an extension or a new building - is already unprofitable in the short term and will harm future generations. We need a new orientation. To achieve this, we must move away from focusing on thePrimary energy consumptiontowards a life cycle assessment of new and existing buildings that takes into account the entire greenhouse gas balance. We are already implementing this with the QNG seal. With the upcoming municipal heat planning as an important component of the heat transition and the upcoming major amendment to the Building Code, which will take up many of the demands from this study, we are planning further necessary steps on the way to the triad 'Building - Climate Protection - Social'." 

⁠UBA-President Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner: "In addition to the urgently needed new construction, we must focus more on the conversion and reuse of existing buildings. Otherwise we will miss our climate and resource protection targets in the building sector. The socio-ecological transformation of our cities needs a paradigm shift. New housing in existing buildings saves raw materials and protects the open landscape from further urban sprawl. We also need to recycle and loop much more building materials."

Dr Matthias Lerm, Head of the Magdeburg Urban Planning Office and, together with Prof. Christa Reicher, Head of KNBau: "We also advocate establishing the new guiding principle of triple inner development in urban planning. This means that the urban planning of the future must not play off the three pillars of compact building, healthy urban greenery and sustainable mobility against each other: If today's car park courtyards become house gardens again, this must be accompanied by suitable mobility alternatives, i.e. expanded public transport and sharing services as well as additional bicycle lanes and pedestrian areas. And if, instead of small-scale and loosened up, there is more compact and space-saving building in the future, then intensively usable playgrounds and climate-effective green corridors must also be included in the projects".

In order to reduce climate emissions and the consumption of raw materials in construction, KNBau recommends adapting the model building code and various state building codes. In future, they should be oriented towards ambitious sustainability criteria and, for example, provide for the conservation of resources and the priority of existing buildings over new ones. Promoting framework conditions for the use of particularly ecological building materials should also be anchored there, as well as allowing reduced minimum distances for photovoltaic systems on roofs. In addition, legal foundations in state building codes should be expanded so that standards for precautionary measures against hazards to health and the environment can be prescribed.

Source: UBA PM of 20.02.2023
www.umweltbundesamt.de/...dem-wohnraummangel-oekologisch-begegnen 



Keywords:
Stock, DE-News, Renewable, Climate protection, Recycling, Resource efficiency, Environmental policy, Housing, Housing policy

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