Renewable Energy to Methanol Conversion via CO2 Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power into electrical mixed networks is hindered by their unsteady delivery, leading to increased costs and operational challenges due to the need for reserve and frequency regulation capacities, making it difficult for these sources to replace traditional power plants and resulting in high valuation based on saved fuel costs rather than their own generation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and facility system that converts renewable energy into storable and transportable hydrocarbon-based energy carriers, such as methanol, using carbon dioxide as a carbon supplier and electric energy generated from renewable sources, allowing for the storage and utilization of energy during peak demand periods while minimizing additional CO2 emissions and reducing operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If wind and solar power plants supply electric energy to the public AC voltage mixed network, then renewable energy generation is achieved, but the unsteady delivery requires reserve and frequency regulation capacities which significantly raises facility and operation costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy conversion process from the electrical mixed network by installing conversion facilities at the production site of wind and solar power plants. This allows direct conversion of renewable energy into storable energy carriers without injecting unstable electrical power into the network, thereby eliminating the need for reserve and frequency regulation capacities while maintaining renewable energy generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary conversion process that transforms renewable energy into storable energy carriers (such as hydrogen or synthetic fuels) through chemical conversion facilities. This intermediary step acts as a buffer between the unsteady renewable energy source and the energy consumption demand, allowing decoupling of generation from consumption timing and eliminating the need for network-based reserve capacities.
2Power
If wind and solar power plants operate in the electrical mixed network, then energy conversion from renewable sources is achieved, but the necessity to hold sufficient reserve and frequency regulation capacities leads to increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power conversion function from the electrical network context by implementing direct conversion of renewable energy into chemically storable forms at the generation site. This removes the reliability burden of maintaining reserve and frequency regulation capacities from the operational requirements, as the conversion facility processes energy independently of network stability requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of energy storage from electrical form (requiring frequency and voltage stability) to chemical form (allowing flexible storage and release). This parameter transformation enables the system to hold energy without maintaining electrical network reliability parameters, as the chemical storage medium can be filled and emptied independently of grid conditions.
3Quantity of substance
If renewable energy is converted into storable hydrocarbon-based energy carriers using CO2 as carbon supplier, then energy storage and transportability are improved, but additional CO2 emissions must be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion into a useful carbon source for synthesizing energy carriers. By capturing CO2 from industrial flue gases or atmospheric sources and using it as a carbon building block in the synthesis of hydrocarbon energy carriers, the system transforms a harmful emission into a valuable resource, potentially achieving net-zero or negative emissions when combined with renewable energy input.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables a more constant and efficient energy supply by converting renewable energy into chemical forms like methanol, reducing the need for reserve and frequency regulation capacities, lowering operational costs, and providing a stable energy buffer that can be used to support peak demand, thus optimizing both economic and ecological aspects of energy production.
Implementation Method 1
This DC energy is generated largely by means of renewable energies, and it is utilized to perform an electrolysis so as to generate hydrogen as an intermediate product
Implementation Method 2
The carbonic acid gas is then brought to a reaction with the hydrogen so as to transform these products to methanol or to another hydrocarbon
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to methods and facility systems (100) for providing storable and transportable carbon-based energy carriers (108) by application of carbon dioxide (101) as a carbon supplier and by application of electric energy (E1, E2). The facility system (100) comprises a plant (300, 301; 400) for providing a first portion of energy in the form of direct current energy (E1) from renewable energy sources. In addition, a power supplies facility (501) is provided for tying the facility system (100) to a mixed network (500), wherein the power supplies facility (501) produces a second portion of energy in the form of direct current energy (E2) from an alternating current voltage of the mixed network (500). A device (102, 105) is adapted to provide hydrogen (103), wherein a part of the energy requirement of this device (102, 105) is covered by said first portion of energy and another part is covered by said second portion of energy. A carbon dioxide supply serves for introducing carbon dioxide (101) and a reaction area (106) is provided for producing a hydrocarbon, preferably methanol (108).