Power-to-X: The Industrial Revolution of this Century

Power-to-X is a collective term for multiple pathways in electricity conversion, energy storage and re-conversion typically using surplus electricity available in power grids. Due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and tidal power surplus electricity can be available and create an issue which needs cope up mechanisms such as energy storage. Power-to-X is a progressing concept which is foreseen as a fine solution for the surplus energy issue of grids dominate by renewable energy sources.

Power-to-ammonia, power-to-methanol, and power-to-hydrogen are some of the frontier concepts in the power-to-x domain, however, we should keep in mind that this is a movement which penetrates a wide spectrum of sectors. The power-to-x concept can be simple as converting surplus renewable energy to heat via primitive resistance heating or it can be a conversion of surplus power to methanol which needs state-of-the-art technologies by high-tech firms such as Cummins, ThyssenKrupp, and Siemens.

While progressing as a solution for surplus energy in renewable energy grids power-to-x is getting attention due to its ability to contribute to bridging sectors which are difficult to connect with renewable energy such as steel, cement, glass, chemicals, long-haul transport, shipping and aviation. These industries are among the heaviest contributors to global warming through enormous CO2 emissions through their hard-to-abate fossil fuel depended on processes. However, power-to-x is coming strongly as a solution. As an example, power-to-hydrogen also known as green hydrogen can bridge steel, cement and glass industries with renewable energy by cooperating hydrogen with their melting and heating processes through direct reduction of hydrogen. And power-to-ammonia also known as Green Ammonia can bridge a series polluters, especially due to the lack of heavy environmental laws on international oceans, the marine industry with renewable energy through ammonia internal combustion engines which replace the traditional marine engines powered by sulfur-contained fossil oil.

In general, power-to-x is an interesting concept which connects many industries with renewable energy and by doing so it enhances the market share for renewable energy securing finances and investor attention to the sector.