Kopernikus-Project P2X

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Kopernikus project "Power-to-X": Flexible use of renewable resources

"Power-to-X" refers to technologies that convert electricity from renewable sources into material energy storage, energy carriers and energy-intensive chemical products. "X" stands for different products, such as:

• gaseous substances such as hydrogen or methane (power-to-gas)
• liquid substances such as fuels (power-to-liquid) for mobility
• basic chemicals for the chemical industry (power-to-chemicals).

This means that energy from renewable sources can be used in the form of customised fuels for motor vehicles or in improved plastics and chemical products with high added value. As part of the Kopernikus programme, a national research platform is being established for this complex field.

What is the goal of the Kopernikus project?

With "Power-to-X" technologies, electricity from renewable sources is electrochemically converted into material resources such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide and synthesis gas. These material resources must then be efficiently stored and distributed and converted into the end products. This requires innovative solutions, which are to be developed in the project into ecologically, economically and socially advantageous processes. In this way, "Power-to-X" contributes to the goal of decarbonising energy systems, which the German government is striving for with the renewing the energy sector, and at the same time reduces the share of fossil raw materials in the important lead markets of transport and traffic as well as chemistry.

Within ten years, new technological developments are to be brought to industrial maturity. In the first funding phase, the focus is on research work on the entire value chain from electrical energy to material energy sources and products. Existing large-scale projects and infrastructures will also be included and interfaces to industry will be developed. In the second funding phase, promising value chains will be analysed in more detail and evaluated in terms of social acceptance, economic and ecological aspects.

What is ifeu's share in this project?

ifeu is involved in project cluster A2, which is investigating the one-step reduction of CO₂ to CO or synthesis gas in aqueous electrolytes. The partners in industry and research are trying to develop the electrolytic conversion of CO₂ to CO or CO/H₂ mixtures (synthesis gas) to such an extent that a demonstration plant or later a pilot plant can be built. For this purpose, catalyst and electrode materials must be developed that enable the desired conversion of CO₂ without the formation of by-products (selective), over the longest possible time (stable) and with the lowest possible electricity input (efficient). The synthesis gas is then converted into butanol, a basic material for the chemical industry, in a bioreactor with the help of specialised bacteria.

In this context, ifeu is conducting the accompanying analysis of the environmental impacts of these technologies in order to provide not only the economic aspects – which are initially in the foreground for the industrial partners – but also the ecological aspects for the decision for or against future large-scale technical use. In addition to electrolysis and the material and energy input required for it, the expenses for the provision of CO₂ and the synthesis of butanol are also considered.