Power-to-gas systems for absorbing excess solar power in electricity distribution networks

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 41; no. 32; pp. 13950 - 13959
• Main Authors: Estermann, T., Newborough, M., Sterner, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 24.08.2016
• Subjects: Energy storage; Power-to-gas; Solar power; Synthetic methane; Solar power; Power-to-gas; Synthetic methane; Energy storage
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.05.278

The feasibility of implementing power-to-gas systems, to absorb surplus solar power from electricity distribution networks and carbon dioxide from biomass anaerobic digestion (AD) plant, in order to produce synthetic methane was investigated for a region of Southern Germany that has a high solar power penetration. The analysis was based on time series electricity data for 2012 from which future load profiles were computed in accordance with the expected installed capacities of solar power across the period 2015–2025. The electrolyser capacity required to absorb 20% of excess solar energy occurring within the region's low voltage network in 2025 was estimated to be 370 MWe. First order considerations of the region's gas grid, electricity network and existing AD sites suggest that such a deployment could be achieved by installing sub-MW (and some multi-MW) power-to-gas plant at several hundred AD sites. •Electrolyser operation for absorbing excess solar power in low voltage networks.•Co-location of power-to-gas systems and anaerobic digesters for producing synthetic methane from excess solar power.•Decarbonisation of low pressure gas distribution networks.•Power-to-gas implementation strategy for Bavaria.