Demonstration Projects for Using Hydrogen as a Source of Energy at Solar/Wind Electrical Power Plants

Successfully demonstrating the commercial viability of generating and using hydrogen to supplement solar and wind energy in producing electricity at power plants is important to increase the value of power plants that use solar and wind energy.   This is because a limitation on the value of power plants using solar and wind energy to generate electricity is the period of time when there is no sun or wind.  During these periods, power plants cannot generate electricity, rendering them useless without alternatives. 

A possible remedy to this problem is also using the power plants to produce hydrogen while solar and wind energy is available, storing the hydrogen, and then using the stored hydrogen as the needed source of energy at the power plants when there is no sun or wind.   However, the commercial and technical viability of this remedy needs to be demonstrated.   In this regards, many demonstration projects across several countries have been ongoing.

Examples of such demonstration projects are the five German demonstration projects listed below that are investigating the use of hydrogen as a source of energy at solar and wind power plants:

Mainz.  A demonstration plant, EnergiePark, began in 2014.  Siemens, Linde, Stadtwerke Mainz AG, and other organizations are associated with the project. A Siemens Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysis system is being used to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen using energy from wind farms.  The plant has a 6 megawatt (MW) rating and a capacity to produce 650,000 kg of hydrogen per year.   Click here for more details – PDF file.

Falkenhagen.  An alkaline electrolyser, provided by Hydrogenics, uses wind farm energy to produce hydrogen, which then is fed into the natural gas grid.   The plant has been operating since 2013 and has a 2 MW rating.  Click here for more details – PDF file.

Reitbrook.   A 2015-started plant, owned by Uniper and using a Hydrogenics PEM electrolyser, feeds hydrogen into the local natural gas grid.  The 1.5 MW-rated plant is reportedly one of a few using a 1.5 MW PEM electrolyser, provided by Hydrogenics.  Click here (PDF file) and here for further details.

Werlte.   A 2013-started plant in Werlte, associated with Etogas, EWE, and AUDI, uses solar, wind, and biogas renewable resources to generate hydrogen from water. The hydrogen is used to produce methane.  An alkaline electrolyser is used.  Click here for more details - PDF file.

Ibbenbueren.  A PEM electrolyser, provided by ITW Power, is being used at a plant in Ibbenbueren to produce hydrogen, which then is fed into the local natural gas grid.  Click here for further details – PDF file. 

As indicated above, many demonstration projects across several countries (in addition to the ones being conducted in Germany) have been ongoing.  A Danish Gas Technology Centre 2013 report identifies more than fifty such projects.   (Click here to read this report – PDF file.)  And a Master’s Thesis (Vesa Vartiainen – Lappeenranta University of Technology) also identifies more than fifty such projects.   (Click here to read this thesis – PDF file.)  The thesis also provides an overview of processes for producing hydrogen and its use as an energy carrier.

Some Data on Ammonia Uses

The data that follows on ammonia shows, I believe, how substantial ammonia is as an important chemical.  Ammonia is a raw material in many reactions leading to chemicals used in many applications throughout the economy.   Developments related to ammonia and its uses have brought tremendous value to the chemical enterprise and to society.

Global annual ammonia consumption is in the 180 million metric ton range.  About 80% of that amount is estimated to be used as a fertilizer with the rest in other uses, mostly as a raw material in making other chemicals.  Ammonia is used as a raw material to make:  ethylene amines; ethanol amine; acrylonitrile; caprolactam; urea; and ammonium nitrate.  A recent United States (US) retail price for ammonia is in the $500 per metric ton range and a wholesale price of $300 per metric ton.  These prices vary globally.  Most ammonia is made using natural gas as a source of hydrogen and reacting hydrogen with nitrogen.  Expected annual growth rates for ammonia use are in the 2 to 3 % range.  What follows is more data on ammonia uses.

Ethylene amines.  Approximately 10 million metric tons of ethylene amines are consumed globally each year.  The most used method to make ethylene amines apparently is the reaction of ammonia with 1, 2-dichloroethane.  Recent ethylene amine prices in the US are in the $1,800 per metric ton range.  Ethylene amines are used for many purposes in such areas as: agriculture; cleaning; personal care; oil and gas production; and water treatment.   Future growth consumption rates for ethylene amines are estimated to be in the 6 to 8% range.

Ethanol amine.  Ethanol amine is usually made from the reaction of ammonia and ethylene oxide.  Global consumption is estimated in the 2 million metric ton per year range.  Prices vary globally with recent US prices in the $2,400 per metric ton range.  Like for ethylene amines, ethanol amine has a good estimated future annual consumption rate increase annually.  Ethanol amine has uses in such areas as: agriculture; surfactant technology; cement processing; chemical intermediates; and gas processing.

Acrylonitrile.  Acrylonitrile is usually produced from the reaction of ammonia with propylene and oxygen.   Global annual consumption is estimated to be in the 7 million metric ton range.  A recent market price is in the $1,600 per metric ton range.  Acrylonitrile is used to produce acrylic fibers and other polymers such as: acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene; styrene-acrylonitrile; and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (polymers that are used in several products).  Estimated global consumption growth rate of acrylonitrile is in the 4% range.

Caprolactam.  Caprolactam is usually made from the reaction of ammonia and cyclohexanone oxime. Recent prices for caprolactam are in the $1,800 per metric ton range. Recent global annual consumption is estimated to be in the 8 to 9 million metric ton range. Caprolactam is used mostly to make polyamide (nylon) 6 fibers. Estimated future global growth rates are in the 4 to 5% per year range.

Urea.   Urea is made by reacting ammonia with carbon dioxide.  Recent retail prices in the US are in the $350 per metric ton range and wholesale prices in the $250 per metric ton rate.  Determinants influencing urea prices are many and therefore understanding and predicting urea prices are difficult.  Prices globally for urea can vary considerably and change quickly.   The primary use for urea is as nitrogen-providing fertilizer (estimated 80-85% of urea produced is used as a fertilizer).  Other uses of urea include: reducing nitrogen oxides emissions and as an intermediate in producing urea-formaldehyde resins and melamine. Estimated future annual growth rates for urea use are in the 2 to 3% per year range, considerably less than the above identified chemicals made with ammonia as one of the starting raw materials.  Global annual consumption of urea is estimated to be around 180 million metric tons.

Ammonia nitrate.  Ammonia nitrate is made by reacting ammonia with nitric acid. Demand for ammonium nitrate as a fertilizer has been declining compared to other fertilizers.   Approximately 65% of ammonia nitrate is used as a fertilizer and 35% in other applications.   Ammonium nitrate as an explosive accounts for most of the other use.  Current annual consumption of ammonia nitrate is estimated at about 30 million metric tons. Estimated annual growth rates are in the 2 to 3% range.

Ammonium refrigerant.  Approximately 2% of ammonia produced is used as a refrigerant (about 3 to 4 million metric tons are used as a refrigerant).  Industrial refrigeration systems are where most of this ammonia is used.  Use of ammonia as a refrigerant is increasing because of its cost, relative environmentally friendliness, and other reasons.

Chemical and Metal Shortage Alert – April 2017

The purpose of this blog is to identify chemical and metal shortages reported on the Internet.  The sources of the information reported here are primarily news releases issued on the Internet.  The issue period of the news releases is April 2017.

Section I below lists those chemicals and metals that were on the previous month’s Chemical and Metal Shortage Alert list and continue to have news releases indicating they are in short supply. Click here to read the March 2017 Chemical and Metal Shortage Alert list.

Section II lists the new chemicals and metals (not on the March alert).  Also provided is some explanation for the shortage and geographical information.  This blog attempts to list only actual shortage situations – those shortages that are being experienced during the period covered by the news releases.  Chemicals and metals identified in news releases as only being in danger of being in short supply status are not listed.

Section I.   Cobalt: global; mining not keeping up with demand

      

Section II.   Shortages Reported in April not found on the Previous Month’s List

Sand/gravel/cement:  India; government regulations

Reasons for Section II shortages can be broadly categorized as: 

1.  Mining not keeping up with demand: none

2.  Production not keeping up with demand:  none

3.  Government regulations: sand/gravel/cement

4.  Sources no longer available: none

5.  Insufficient imports:  none

6.  Supply not keeping up with demand:  none