Technology
What is it?
Hydrogen is produced via solid oxide electrolysis, then fed into a second reactor in which it is combined with carbon dioxide to produced methanol. The heat from the methanol production step is then fed back to the solid oxide electrolysis cell for further hydrogen production.
Why is it important?
Integrated hydrogen production and methanol synthesis presents an opportunity to make use of the heat generated from methanol synthesis step, reducing the amount of input energy required for the solid oxide electrolysis step.
Characteristics
- Volumetric hydrogen density: 100kgH2/m3 at ambient conditions
- Gravimetric hydrogen density: 12.5% by mass
- Storage conditions: Liquid at ambient conditions
Benefits
- Downstream process well established
- Heat integration makes use of heat from exothermic downstream reaction, supplies it back to hydrogen generation reaction
- Makes use of carbon dioxide as a process input
Limitations
- If converted back into hydrogen, releases CO2
- Higher system complexity than solid oxide electrolysis method
RD&D priorities
- Develop means to economically manufacture and implement cells at scale
- Prevent degradation of solid oxide electrolysers
- Develop system integration concepts to engineer a complete integrated system
- Reduce system capital cost
Known active organisations
- The University of Adelaide