OpBheat – Optimizing Power-to-X Beneficially for Heating

Challenge

As part of a development and demonstration project under Erhvervsfyrtårn Syd, European Energy, together with Aabenraa-Rødekro Fjernvarme, SDU, and AAU, has developed a solution to utilize 8 MW of surplus heat from the Power-to-X facility at Kassø. This surplus heat will partially replace the current district heating supply. The solution is made possible by increasing the temperature of the surplus heat, primarily derived from the Power-to-X facility's methanol synthesis process, through the latest generation of heat pump technology from Solid Energy.

When the heat pump solution is commissioned in the first quarter of 2024, it will demonstrate how Power-to-X facilities can deliver attractive, CO2-free, and cost-competitive heat to the local district heating network. Additionally, it will showcase how sector coupling and the integration of district heating with Power-to-X at a larger scale can contribute to improved economics and higher energy efficiency.

Solution

• Analyze how the integration of district heating at the Kassø Power-to-X facility can be maximized by utilizing a greater portion of the additional 30 MW heating capacity available from the facility’s processes and components.
• Investigate the potential to produce additional green heat for Aabenraa-Rødekro Fjernvarme's customers by installing an electric boiler to utilize green electricity directly from the Kassø solar park.
• Further develop and validate a dynamic digital simulation model to optimize operations at the Power-to-X facility, including its integration with district heating, using operational data from the Kassø facility starting in Q1 2024.

Expected Outcomes/Impacts

Techno-Economic Report and Decision Basis for Expansion:

• A report and FID decision basis for the potential expansion of the heat delivery capacity from the Kassø Power-to-X facility to the district heating network by an additional 30 MW.
• The analysis will also form the foundation for European Energy’s next-generation 2.0 Power-to-X district heating concept for implementation in new facilities.

Techno-Economic Report and Potential Investment in Electric Boiler:

• A report and possible investment in an electric boiler for district heating production from green electricity. This will demonstrate the synergies in sector coupling and collaboration between renewable energy facilities, Power-to-X plants, and district heating companies.

Simulation Tool Development and Validation:

• Development and validation of a simulation tool for Power-to-X process and system planning.
• The tool will identify supply chain bottlenecks and develop key performance indicators, including a building simulation module for production and distribution planning, from hydrogen production to district heating.

Coordinated Planning:

• Creation of a coordinated production and distribution plan for the Power-to-X supply chain, addressing resource requirements and activity scheduling.
• Conduct cost and sensitivity analyses based on different scenarios for supply availability and demand levels.

The OpBheat project will significantly contribute to realizing techno-economic optimization potential in the sector coupling of renewable energy, e-methanol facilities, and district heating. Based on project results and operational experiences from the Kassø Power-to-X facility starting in Q1 2024, an optimized 2.0 design for the Power-to-X district heating concept can be developed and implemented.

Activities directly related to the project but expected to occur after the project period include a FID decision on expanding heat delivery capacity to the district heating network from the Kassø Power-to-X facility and the operation of an electric boiler for green district heating production.