Our Innovation Analysts recently looked into emerging technologies and up-and-coming startups in the energy industry. As there is a large number of startups working on a wide variety of solutions, we decided to share our insights with you. So, let’s take a look at promising power-to-gas solutions.
Heat Map: 5 Top Power-to-Gas Startups
For our 5 picks, we used a data-driven startup scouting approach to identify the most relevant solutions globally. The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 interesting examples out of 153 relevant solutions. Depending on your specific needs, your top picks might look entirely different.
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Ineratec – Synthetic Natural Gas
The expansion of renewable energy leads to an excess supply of wind and sun electricity in the low demand period. This excessive green energy is used to convert hydrogen received from water electrolysis and CO2 into synthetic natural gas (SNG). The SNG can be further injected into existing natural gas infrastructure, enabling long-term storage of renewable energy. Germany-based Ineratec develops a power-to-gas process for synthetic natural gas (SNG) production from renewable hydrogen and carbon oxides (carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide). The company also provides technology for the conversion of renewable gas into synthetic hydrocarbons and fuels.
Areva H2Gen – Power-to-Syngas
Power-to-syngas conversion involves 2 steps. First, the electrolysis of water to receive hydrogen, and second, the conversion of hydrogen and carbon dioxide to hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and water. Syngas is used as an intermediate in the production of synthetic natural gas, ammonia, and methanol. French Areva H2Gen designs, manufactures and provides maintenance of hydrogen generators based on proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis technology. These electrolyzers are used to provide carbon-free input to gas networks, including power-to-syngas applications.
H2GO Power – Power-to-Hydrogen
Hydrogen production by means of electrolysis allows integrating 100% green energy. In this method, renewable electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen by means of electrolysis. The resulting hydrogen is injected into the natural gas grid or is used in transport or industry. UK-based H2GO Power develops a safe method of hydrogen production and storage for providing power on the move. The core of the company’s system for storing hydrogen gas is a flexible sponge structure made from nanomaterials which trap hydrogen atoms in their pores. When this structure is heated, gas is released. Hydrogen for the system is produced by splitting water molecules (H2O) using the water electrolysis process.
Power-to-Gas Hungary – Power-to-Methane
The power to methane method is used to combine hydrogen from an electrolyzer with carbon dioxide and convert the two gases to methane using a methanation reaction. The methane may then be fed into a natural gas grid if the purity requirement is reached. This technology is suitable for utility-scale energy storage, grid balancing, and carbon reuse. Power-to-Gas Hungary is a joint venture of the Germany-based CleanTech startup Electrochaea and Hungarian utility MVM Group that works on one of the world’s first grid-scale power-to-gas plants. The company uses the process for conversion of low-cost renewable electricity and carbon dioxide into pipeline-grade methane for direct injection into the existing natural gas grid.
GreenHydrogen – Power-to-Power
Power-to-power solutions are typically backed up by batteries, or a mix of diesel gensets and batteries. Both of the mentioned solutions have their disadvantages such as harmful emissions, high maintenance expenses, risk of explosion. Adding on-site electrolyzers, hydrogen storage, hydrogen fuel cells and/or a hydrogen power generator provides an efficient and clean alternative to diesel gensets. GreenHydrogen, a startup from Denmark, provides advanced electrolyzers and hydrogen solutions for renewable energy and industrial applications such as on-site hydrogen generation, Power-to-X, hydrogen refueling stations, and energy storage.
What About The Other 148 Solutions?
While we believe data is key to creating insights it can be easy to be overwhelmed by it. Our ambition is to create a comprehensive overview and provide actionable innovation intelligence for your Proof of Concept (PoC), partnership, or investment targets. The 5 power-to-gas startups showcased above are promising examples out of 153 we analyzed for this article. To identify the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria and collaboration strategy, get in touch.
