What is it about?
We explored how renewable electricity from wind farms can be stored and reused using chemical carriers like hydrogen, methane, methanol, and ammonia. These "E-Fuels" act as large-scale batteries, helping industrial sites — especially in the chemical sector — secure a continuous energy supply even when wind power fluctuates. Our study compares the efficiency and storage requirements of each fuel to identify the best options for sustainable, reliable energy storage.
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Why is it important?
As we move toward more renewable energy, keeping industries running smoothly becomes a major challenge. Wind and solar energy are clean but unpredictable. Chemical plants and other industrial sites need steady power. Our results show that while hydrogen is the most efficient fuel, liquid carriers like ammonia and methanol may be more practical, requiring much smaller storage volumes. Choosing the right energy carrier is key to building a greener, more resilient industrial future.
Perspectives
Moving forward, combining different renewable sources like wind and solar can improve energy stability even more. Research should also target new storage solutions, especially making hydrogen storage more space-efficient. Our study provides a roadmap for industries and policymakers to support a carbon-neutral economy — by selecting the right technologies to bridge the gap between renewable energy production and industrial demand.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Ernst Müller
Ruhr-Universitat Bochum
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Efficiency and optimal load capacity of E-Fuel-Based energy storage systems, Advances in Applied Energy, June 2023, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.adapen.2023.100140.
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