POWER-TO-GAS TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN ENRICHED AND RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS FOR ENERGY STORAGE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

摘要

Natural gas is an abundant fuel which offers environmental and efficiency improvements over coal. Although most natural gas is not renewable, it is possible to generate Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) through the addition of hydrogen to biogas - referred to as methanation. Another sustainable use of hydrogen is the creation of hydrogen enriched natural gas (HENG) a blend of low concentrations of hydrogen in natural gas that emits less greenhouse gasses per unit of energy. The creation of RNG and HENG can be integrated into a Power-to-Gas energy storage system, which utilizes renewable electricity to generate hydrogen via electrolysis. Creating natural gas-based energy storage is particularly effective, as the hydrogen can provide grid management and easier transportation of energy, through existing natural gas infrastructure. With large natural gas infrastructure in the southeastern United States, there is a significant amount of potential energy storage available through a Power-to-Gas system. This energy storage could be used to provide backup power for seasonal variation in energy demand or for turnkey energy production after a natural disaster. In the following paper, the authors examine the environmental performance of an integrated Power-to-Gas system for energy storage.