5.1 Evaluation of the Literature Review …
47
by 2030. In absolute values, this corresponds to around 40 gigawatts of combined
solar PV and wind power to be built.
Taiwan has the objective to reduce the coal and oil-fired energy production and
to become a nuclear free country. To reach these objectives, Taiwan has defined
ambitious renewable energy growth targets, though relatively smaller than Japan
or Australia in term of absolute values.
The production of hydrogen from renewable electricity
The documentation review provides information regarding the link between
renewable energy and the production of renewable hydrogen.
The curtailment and the energy storage help accommodating a growing share
of intermittent renewable energy production in an electricity system. The curtailment only addresses the issue of the excess generation. Depending on the legal
framework, curtailed electricity is either a loss for the renewable energy project operator or it is compensated by the taxpayers. Therefore, storage offers a
complementary strategy to the curtailment. The excess energy is stored and reinjected to the grid when needed. There are several technologies in place or under
development, with quite different characteristics suitable for specific situations
or purposes (i.e. frequency control, seasonal storage…). One storage technology
consists on converting the electrical energy into chemical energy by producing
hydrogen via water electrolysis. The hydrogen can be converted back to electricity
via a fuel cell or a reverse electrolysis process.
Beyond the energy storage application, hydrogen produced from renewable
energy can be used in other applications. This is the power-to-gas technology.
A power-to-gas system provides flexibility to its operator. It can be operated
on-demand, for instance when there is excess of renewable electricity available.
When the renewable electricity is converted into chemical energy in the form of
hydrogen, it can be transported anywhere it is needed. Finally, by changing the
energy vector, renewable energy can be used in sector that cannot be electrified
easily and help the decarbonisation. This is called sector coupling.
Three main water electrolysis technologies exist with different level of maturity. The PEMEC technology offers technical characteristics that are suitable with
the intermittent nature of the renewable energy production. The PEMEC technology is not yet mature and therefore a decrease of the LFCH is expected along
with the learning curve of the product.
The electricity and the water are other important cost elements. The higher the
price of the electricity, the costlier the production of renewable hydrogen. Water
can be a scarce resource in some regions of the APAC markets and could compete
with other needs.
47
by 2030. In absolute values, this corresponds to around 40 gigawatts of combined
solar PV and wind power to be built.
Taiwan has the objective to reduce the coal and oil-fired energy production and
to become a nuclear free country. To reach these objectives, Taiwan has defined
ambitious renewable energy growth targets, though relatively smaller than Japan
or Australia in term of absolute values.
The production of hydrogen from renewable electricity
The documentation review provides information regarding the link between
renewable energy and the production of renewable hydrogen.
The curtailment and the energy storage help accommodating a growing share
of intermittent renewable energy production in an electricity system. The curtailment only addresses the issue of the excess generation. Depending on the legal
framework, curtailed electricity is either a loss for the renewable energy project operator or it is compensated by the taxpayers. Therefore, storage offers a
complementary strategy to the curtailment. The excess energy is stored and reinjected to the grid when needed. There are several technologies in place or under
development, with quite different characteristics suitable for specific situations
or purposes (i.e. frequency control, seasonal storage…). One storage technology
consists on converting the electrical energy into chemical energy by producing
hydrogen via water electrolysis. The hydrogen can be converted back to electricity
via a fuel cell or a reverse electrolysis process.
Beyond the energy storage application, hydrogen produced from renewable
energy can be used in other applications. This is the power-to-gas technology.
A power-to-gas system provides flexibility to its operator. It can be operated
on-demand, for instance when there is excess of renewable electricity available.
When the renewable electricity is converted into chemical energy in the form of
hydrogen, it can be transported anywhere it is needed. Finally, by changing the
energy vector, renewable energy can be used in sector that cannot be electrified
easily and help the decarbonisation. This is called sector coupling.
Three main water electrolysis technologies exist with different level of maturity. The PEMEC technology offers technical characteristics that are suitable with
the intermittent nature of the renewable energy production. The PEMEC technology is not yet mature and therefore a decrease of the LFCH is expected along
with the learning curve of the product.
The electricity and the water are other important cost elements. The higher the
price of the electricity, the costlier the production of renewable hydrogen. Water
can be a scarce resource in some regions of the APAC markets and could compete
with other needs.