The Role of Power-to-Gas in the Future Power Supply – The Optimized Power Supply System with High Shares of Renewable Energies Using the Example of the Trier-Amprion 5 Model Region

In the future, the realisation of an energy supply with predominantly renewable energies will require a strong expansion of volatile energy sources such as photovoltaics and wind energy. Due to increased electricity generation from these generators, more electricity storage will be necessary. One of the few practicable options from today’s perspective for storing potentially large amounts of energy over several days to weeks/months (long-term storage) is power-to-gas (PtG) technology. The process realizes the conversion of electrical energy into the chemical energy carrier methane / SNG.

The aim of this study is to show the role of PtG in a future energy supply. For this reason, this project simulates the self-sufficient and load-profile-compliant 100% renewable power supply of a specific model region in Germany. The focus is on the detailed investigation of the use of PtG to realize the most cost-effective, decentralized and renewable power supply.

For the optimization of the power supply, a concrete computer simulation of the power grid of the model region with regard to its current and future possible energy supply with RE plants and storage technologies is carried out with the P²IONEER model. A special feature is the subdivision into 17 sub-areas to consider the local potentials and the utilization of electricity grid transmission capacities.

The results of the optimisations of the energy system of the model region show that it is possible to cover the electricity demand in accordance with the load profile with available technologies. PtG is a central element in the cost-optimal configuration for a 100% RE power supply. This statement is robust, i.e. to a large extent independent of parameter assumptions of the modeling. Even with PtG investment costs that correspond to twice the standard assumptions chosen here, PtG is preferred to other storage technologies such as (LiIon) batteries or the additional installation of generation capacities with a temporary curtailment of the surpluses.

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