3. Transformation
Hydrogen is widely used as the primary material for the Power-to-X transformation, especially in the chemical industry and refinery technology. Among other things, it is used to produce ammonia and methanol.
Ammonia and Methanol Production
Ammonia is produced by so-called ammonia synthesis. The clear advantage of using ammonia as an energy carrier is that it has a high transport and storage capacity. This makes it possible to use ammonia as a power-to-X in the future, for example, as fuel for motors and for operating power plants. Methanol is an organic chemical produced in large quantities, which can also be used as a basic chemical or an energy carrier. Like ammonia production, hydrogen and CO2 are also required for synthesizing methanol.
Synthetic fuels – so-called eFuels – could be used to operate CO₂-neutral internal combustion engines in the future. A starting material for the production of synthetic fuel is hydrogen. This is obtained by separating hydrogen (H2) from water by electrolysis. To make the hydrogen a liquid fuel, carbon dioxide (CO₂), which originates as a waste product from industry or biogas plants, is then added. The mixture formed in this process assumes the properties of gasoline, kerosene or diesel through specific chemical processes, making it suitable for gasoline and diesel engines or in aircraft propulsion. In addition, the hydrogen bound in the ammonia can be recovered and further used.
Transformation – eFuels, Synthetic Fuels
Whereas conventional fuel is produced from petroleum, natural gas or coal, alternative fuels or propellants are produced from “biogenic” or “synthetic” materials. Biogenic fuels are derived from plants, plant residues or liquid manure. In contrast, CO2-neutral, synthetic fuels are produced by complex chemical processes and, as a rule, without using fossil raw materials. A starting material for the production of synthetic fuel is hydrogen. To make hydrogen a liquid fuel, carbon dioxide (CO₂), which originates as a waste product from industry or biogas plants, is added. These processes give rise to synthetically produced gasoline, kerosene or diesel, which are suitable for conventional internal combustion engines.
