Power-to-X (PtX): An enabler of the future

We are a wind developer who can develop, construct and operate solar, batteries, electrolysers and other Power-to-X technologies. We believe that PtX will play a significant role in the future of energy. By combining our knowledge in this area and adding the possibility to transform green energy into hydrogen or e-methanol, we are able to cover more of the value chain.

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Power-to-X definition

Power-to-X is also known as PtX and is used to describe technologies that convert electricity into other forms of energy or energy carriers. It is an umbrella term that describes any type of sourced electricity (power) such as Power-to-heat, Power-to-hydrogen, Power-to-methanol and Power-to-gas.

Essentially, PtX turns electricity into something else.

The PtX section has experienced significant growth, not only in Eurowind Energy, but also globally. We believe that PtX will play a significant role in the future.

Power-to-X solution to store surplus energy

One of the challenges when working with renewable energy is storing the surplus power that is being produced and utilising it appropriately. When it is very windy, we may need to shut down wind turbines as they produce more power than we can consume. We cannot save the surplus energy and the grid cannot handle the excess power that is produced. This is why some wind turbines cease operation in windy weather.

Renewables produce electricity when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining, meaning that it is a fluctuating generation source. Here PtX becomes interesting since it provides a potential storage solution for renewable energy. It enables flexibility by separating the necessity of consuming electricity at the same time as it is produced.

PtX technology creates flexibility in power production that we can deploy across different sectors to decarbonise on a global scale, limit global warming, and replace fossil fuels.

The prospects and benefits of Power-to-X

PtX technologies hold several benefits that we can exploit in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the green transition, thus paving the way for our future energy and society.

PtX technologies help balance electricity supply and demand by storing excess energy and making it available when needed. This is very useful in sectors that are hard to decarbonise and cannot be directly electrified such as the shipping, aviation and agricultural industries. With PtX technology, it becomes possible to decarbonise when PtX products are produced from renewables.

PtX can also be an enabler for wind and solar. This means that we can utilise the produced energy to its maximum. As an example, in regions where access to the grid has been restricted the implementation of PtX can help realise the potential of the installation of wind and solar power.

PtX processors generate a large amount of waste heat, which can be applied in the district heating sector. The technology can therefore contribute to CO2 reduction when replacing the use of fossil fuels and provides new renewable business and export opportunities.

Power-to-X projects

Our journey towards a greener future can be supported by PtX technology contributing to a flexible and integrated energy system, where PtX is integrated into the energy system in a way that supports and functions as a supplement to the existing supply sectors such as electricity, gas and heating. PtX technology makes it possible to produce energy that can replace fossil fuels in different industries that might not be that adaptable, such as shipping, aviation and agriculture.

At Eurowind Energy, we have taken significant steps into the area of PtX through our PtX projects that are under development in our markets.

Last year, we made some significant strategic partnerships, especially through the Green Hydrogen Hub, Greenlab Skive project, and district heating. The objective of the Green Hydrogen Hub is to develop the value chain for hydrogen and energy storage networks to enable the integration of renewables. The project is progressing well as planned.

Greenlab Skive is a large green energy project, where we see great opportunities for further development potential including electrolysis and batteries. The project is planned to be finished at the end of 2024.

Projects are also progressing within the district heating sector in Denmark. In Denmark, we have projects which use heat pumps powered by green energy from our parks to produce heated water. We can use this technology in specific places in the country where we have a hybrid park close to a district heating facility, as this can support the transition of converting the district heating grid.

Energy centres create a circular system

To fully realise the potential of the PtX technology, we will develop facilities as energy centres where different technologies are co-located to accomplish a range of synergies. An important synergy is the utilisation of waste heat, since several of the technologies either produce or consume large amounts of heat. Waste heat from a heat-producing process can be transported and used in a heat-consuming process, thereby creating a circular system where waste is converted to value. Energy centres can furthermore reduce the pressure on surrounding infrastructure since more power is consumed locally.

The ability to produce energy in a variety of weather scenarios will allow the energy centres to provide more full-load hours, which again makes them very competitive in the fields of storage, hydrogen and the refining of hydrogen.

The main Power-to-X technologies

The Power-to-X (PtX) sector has experienced significant growth, not only in Eurowind Energy but also globally. New technologies are being used across sectors to limit the use of fossil fuels and to decarbonise society. We believe that PtX will play a significant role in the future of supplying renewable energy.

We always strive to be one step ahead in our industry and therefore we focus on these primary Power-to-X technologies:

Power-to-heat converts electricity into heat, which can be fed into existing district heating networks and used to heat buildings or other spaces. The system includes a heat pump and often an ATES system as well.

Power-to-hydrogen converts electricity and water into hydrogen, a gas that has many different uses, some of which include the following:

Hydrogen is converted back to electricity when renewable electricity production is low, thereby stabilising the electricity grid over time.
Hydrogen is used as a fuel to power heavy goods vehicles, buses, and cars.
Hydrogen is used as a feedstock in other PtX processes, such as power to methanol or power to ammonia.

Power-to-ammonia converts hydrogen and nitrogen into ammonia, which is used in large amounts in fertiliser production. It is also one of the future fuels considered key in assisting the decarbonisation of the shipping industry.

To produce ammonia, you combine hydrogen and nitrogen under high pressure and high temperatures in a process called Haber-Bosch. Ammonia is a carbon-free product as long as it is made from green hydrogen.

Power-to-methanol needs a hydrogen source and a carbon source. Hydrogen can be obtained from the electrolysis process or from methane. Carbon can be obtained from methane as well. Methanol is an alcohol used as a blend-in for fossil fuels and is also considered one of the major fuels to help decarbonise the shipping industry. Furthermore, methanol is also used as a feedstock in plastic production.