The share of renewable energies in the electricity production in Germany reached a historical peak in 2017 with over 36%. A large proportion of this came from wind and solar power plants. However, due to the volatility of renewable energy generation, these energy sources are not permanently available, and surpluses cannot be completely stored.

The coupling of energy sectors could balance out supply and demand – this offers great potential, particularly for the “green” transport sector. Using electrolysis, surplus electricity can be turned into hydrogen. This can then be synthesized into methanol using renewable electricity and CO2 produced from biomass fermentation. As a storage medium, renewable fuels, such as biomethanol, have the advantage that they can be generated independently of demand and be stored long-term. Thus, methanol can be used as a fuel for mobility, heat and electricity generation.

This is focus of a collaborative research project headed up by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V. (German Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, DECHEMA). Together with partners from industry and business, the economic potential of coupling energy sectors will be determined and tested in pilot power plants. In the course of researching the technical fundamentals, the suitability of using CO2 gained through various fermentation processes will be evaluated. Economic aspects such as the investment and operating costs of synthesizing methanol will also be investigated within the scope of this project.

Assuming positive technical-economic results of this project, a first-generation biogas plant, which produces biogas from sugar and starch, is to serve as a source of CO2 for a pilot plant that synthesizes methane. The energy needed for the methanisation will be supplied from a solar park. A second plant will use the emissions from conventional energy generation through combined heat and power systems as a source of CO2, and the power needed for this will be supplied by an integrated wind farm.

The aim of the research project is therefore to establish the foundation for a long-term industrial implementation. The project is being funded by the BMWi and will run until March 2020.