Page 13 - European Energy Innovation - spring 2019 publication

Spring 2019 European Energy Innovation 13
for the future use of CO2-free hydrogen generated from
natural gas, saying they could be an important method
for reducing carbon emissions. With regard to the national
and international climate goals, the company says this
energy source could play an important role in minimising
carbon emissions if it is integrated more strongly into the
energy system.
One of the ways to reduce the carbon footprint will be to
blend natural gas with hydrogen, into a new product called
“Hythane” and thereby establishing a low-carbon energy
product. However, the first step is to transition in the energy (solid, black, elementary carbon). In the laboratory
and transport sectors from coal and oil to natural gas,
for example through power plants based on natural gas,
cogeneration of heat and power, and natural gas vehicles.
Taking this step would already cut back between 13 and
18 per cent of total carbon emissions in the European
Union compared to 2016 (or 35 to 39 per cent compared
to the 1990 reference year), according to Gazprom. If in the
next step methane-hydrogen mixtures are used in these
sectors, the EU’s 2030 climate targets could be achieved
without costly changes in the distribution systems.
Overall, a 25 to 35 per cent carbon reduction is possible
compared to 2016 (45 to 51 per cent on 1990). And finally,
says the company, switching energy systems to hydrogen
from methane as the main source of energy could achieve
an 80% reduction in carbon emissions in the European
Union by 2050.
Gazprom’s assessment matches the findings of the
“Integrated Energy Transition” lead study published last
year by the German Energy Agency (dena). According to
this study, demand for hydrogen with the lowest possible
carbon content will increase in the coming decades from
around 30 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2030 to more than 150
TWh in 2050. In fact, these are conservative assumptions
that assume usage primarily in the industrial and mobility
sectors. If the use of hydrogen and renewable syngas also
progresses in the energy sector, the need could even rise
to more than 900 TWh.
The natural gas industry is already making progress in this
regard and is using hydrogen-methane mixtures for the
operation of compressors in gas transport. As a result,
carbon emissions can be reduced by around 30 per cent,
according to initial analyses.
Conclusion
Methane pyrolysis is a very promising alternative to
minimise the carbon footprint in the energy system.
CO2-free hydrogen produced from natural gas is a very
relevant opportunity, not only to reduce CO2-emissions of
the energy industry as such, but also as a basis to make
an important contribution to achieving the 2050 climate
objectives of the European Union. l
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COMMUNICATION
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raw material
The procedure uses a reactor based on liquid
metal technology for the pyrolysis. Small methane
bubbles are placed in this reactor from the bottom
into a column filled with molten tin. As they rise in
the liquid metal, the cracking reaction takes place.
The carbon is secreted onto the bubble surface,
and when the bubbles disintegrate, the carbon is
deposited as a powder at the top of the reactor
set-up, the reactor ran in a continuous operation for
two weeks and produced hydrogen at a conversion
rate of up to 78 per cent at temperatures of around
1,200 degrees Celsius. The successfully-tested
continuous operation is the crucial requirement for
future, comparable reactor types on an industrial
scale. Modern digital technologies can help to
implement the procedure in a particularly economic
manner. Falling prices for sensor technology and
micro-controller devices lead to substantial cost
advantages in this regard. Smart sensor technology
and Big Data analysis methods can be used,
for example, to enable automated, predictive
maintenance.
Alternative methods for breaking down methane
include plasma arc technology or iron ore catalysts.
Although these methods are already more
developed than the procedure with a liquid metal
reactor, the latter is superior to the other methods
in terms of material use and costs, as well as energy
consumption and safety, according to expert opinion.
In addition, Gazprom is currently developing further
procedures that are suitable for smaller applications
and which are characterized by lower specific energy
consumption per cubic meter of hydrogen produced.