This work is focused on the evaluation of technical implementations and related techno-economic aspects, the usability of CO2 sources, and possibility of mass deployment of Power-to-Gas technology (P-t-G), with energy storage being the primary objective. For P-t-G, to ensure a low price of surplus electricity is quite necessary. A possible way is to eliminate the regulated electricity distribution fees by associating a methanation plant with the main CO2-producing plant. The methanation plant will then be an auxiliary plant (auxiliary operation) with its own technological consumption and will be exempt from fees. Further, because attractiveness and competitiveness of P-t-G depends on interconnectedness with other technologies, the use of P-t-G as an auxiliary operation of lignite-fired station with nominal capacity of 110 MWhel was evaluated. As a result, the discounted payback period 3.8 (for a discount rate 8%) or 5.1 (for a discount rate 15%) years was calculated. These and other indicators show that the lignite-fired power plant's investment in P-t-G can have a good return.

Publication: Straka Pavel: A comprehensive study of Power-to-Gas technology: Technical implementations overview, economic assessments, methanation plant as auxiliary operation of lignite-fired power station. Journal of Cleaner Production 311, 2021, 127642. Doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127642