Power-to-x is gaining traction in Germany’s renewable energy push

Germany’s share of renewable energy continues to rise but the capacity of the national grid is constrained, putting a spotlight on power-to-x technologies to store the renewable energy, according to a Forbes article authored by four US policy and energy scholars. “This is not only an issue for Germany; many countries/regions around the globe face similar challenges as they adjust to the energy transition,” they write. “No major technology breakthroughs have occurred in the power-to-x arena in recent years, although the potential to have large quantities of low-carbon surplus electricity has sparked intense interest in this concept.” Germany already boasts more than 50 power-to-x projects with a capacity of 55 megawatts, according to data cited in the article.

Using renewable electricity to produce hydrogen, CO₂-neutral methane or other fossil fuel substitutes could solve some of the Energiewende’s toughest challenges. Making gas with wind and solar power could provide carbon-neutral fuel for heating and transport and pave the way for large-scale seasonal energy storage. A lot of energy is lost during the conversion, however, making the technology comparatively expensive.