Stand-alone power system

Electrical engineering

Physics

Pathology

Power to gas

Electrode

Process engineering

Energy transition

Energy storage

Engineering

Electrolysis

Environmental economics

Electricity market

Physical chemistry

Management

Economics

Power (physics)

Panacea (medicine)

Biochemical engineering

Chemistry

Alternative medicine

Electricity

Flexibility (engineering)

Quantum mechanics

Electrolyte

Electric power system

Electricity system

Environmental science

Electricity generation

Medicine

Nature Communications

In the transition to decarbonized energy systems, Power-to-Gas (PtG) processes have the potential to connect the existing markets for electricity and hydrogen. Specifically, reversible PtG systems can convert electricity to hydrogen at times of ample power supply, yet they can also operate in the reverse direction to deliver electricity during times when power is relatively scarce. Here we develop a model for determining when reversible PtG systems are economically viable. We apply the model to the current market environment in both Germany and Texas and find that the reversibility feature of unitized regenerative fuel cells (solid oxide) makes them already cost-competitive at current hydrogen prices, provided the fluctuations in electricity prices are as pronounced as currently observed in Texas. We further project that, due to their inherent flexibility, reversible PtG systems would remain economically viable at substantially lower hydrogen prices in the future, provided recent technological trends continue over the coming decade.

Reversible Power-to-Gas systems for energy conversion and storage