Comprehensive analysis of renewable energy integration in decarbonised mobility: Leveraging power-to-X storage with biogenic carbon sources

This study analyses the potential of biogenic CO 2 as platform for the energy storage towards the realisation of a carbon-free mobility system. • System designed to either store or produce electricity or H2 according to demand. • Storage of H2 or electricity by coupling with biogenic CO2 emissions abatement is feasible. • The system using photovoltaic electricity works in storage mode for 70 % of the time. • The final cost depends strongly on the framework conditions like energy autarchy. • The cost of generated electricity and H2 ranges between 0.18–0.21 €/kWh. In this study, the conceptual design of a system for delivering constant energy supply to a decarbonized urban mobility setting was conducted. Two systems were designed based on battery electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles. The primary energy supply is renewable electricity, converted to H 2 in an electrolyzer for fuel cell electric vehicles. Excess electricity is stored as methane or methanol, synthesized using CO 2 from biogas upgrading. Technical performance indicators were calculated using data from the city of Zurich. Electrical mobility was found to be the most efficient option, considering engine efficiency and lower electricity conversion requirements for H 2 . The system operates in storage mode approximately 70% of the time, converting excess electricity into methane or methanol, and requires re-conversion of electricity for the remaining time. Methane was identified as the best storage molecule for electricity, with a 29% electricity-to-electricity efficiency, while methanol proved optimal for H 2 storage, achieving 43% H 2 -to-H 2 efficiency. The total system cost was evaluated using a biogas plant near Zurich, revealing that the cost of generated electricity and H 2 ranges between 0.18–0.21 €/kWh. The low cost of renewable electricity, available 70% of the time, makes the proposed solution cost-competitive for decarbonizing mobility. Additionally, the system facilitates carbon capture by transferring CO 2 from decentralized emitters to a centralized reforming plant, with a carbon capture penalty of only 0.01–0.02 €/kWh.