Feasibility evaluation of a wind/P2G/SOFC/GT multi-energy microgrid system with synthetic fuel based on C-H-O elemental ternary analysis

Power to gas (P2G) uses electrical energy from access renewable power and captured carbon dioxide (CO2) to generate methane (CH4). The technology provides opportunity for replacing fossil fuels with green-powered hydrocarbon, benefiting the reducing of carbon emission. However, the methanation process in P2G requires high H2/CO2 ratio with available amount of hydrogen (H2) restricted by fluctuation of renewable power, bringing limits to the reusing of captured CO2. This paper presents a feasibility analysis of a novel wind/P2G/SOFC/GT multi-energy system (MES) for microgrid. Green-powered CH4 generated from P2G is mixed with captured CO2, bringing additional flexibility to balancing the overall H2/CO2 ratio for utilization. To comprehensively analyze the feasibility of synthesis CH4/CO2 fuel, evaluation of MES is carried out from both design and off-design conditions. For the design condition, a methodology of C-H-O elemental ternary analysis is applied to reflect the process of fuel utilization and reveal its connection with the trade-off feature of multiple components. For the off-design condition, fluctuations of user’s load and renewable source during winter and summer scenarios are considered in a case study. Results show that under C-H-O distribution of 5.8%, 61.2% and 33.0%, the SOFC/GT could operate safety with electrical efficiency of 62%, capable of participating as a secondary power source for MES. Meanwhile, the overall H2/CO2 utilization ratio of the system is reduced from 4:1 to 12:5, where extremes conditions during winter and summer scenarios are evaluated with renewable penetration level of 94% and wind curtailment rate below 5% reached.