Denmark is investing in green fuels. And now the power grid must keep pace

Denmark is making major investments in renewable energy. New offshore wind farms and solar parks are expected to provide the electricity needed for the green transition, with part of that energy being used to produce sustainable fuels for aviation, shipping and heavy transport.

But before that vision can become reality, the energy system must be able to accommodate a new generation of large-scale, electricity-intensive industrial facilities.

Researchers from Aarhus University, together with Topsoe and PlanEnergi, have now received DKK 25 million in funding from MissionGreenFuels under Innovation Fund Denmark for a new project called PowerFactor. The project aims to generate new knowledge about how large Power-to-X plants can be integrated more efficiently into the electricity system and thereby support the production of green fuels.

A modern Power-to-X facility can consume as much electricity as a small town. As a result, these plants place new demands on the infrastructure that supplies power to them.

The researchers will investigate how Power-to-X facilities interact with the electricity grid under different operating conditions and explore ways to improve predictability and reliability when connecting new plants to the grid. Their goal is to develop methods and recommendations that make it easier to establish future Power-to-X facilities without compromising the stability of the energy system.

Building a more flexible and resilient energy system

The project will allow researchers to study the interaction between Power-to-X facilities and the electricity grid under realistic conditions using advanced test facilities and digital modelling tools.

Part of the work will take place at Aarhus University’s Power-to-X facilities at AU Viborg, where technologies can be integrated into existing infrastructure and tested in practice.

“By doing so, we build a bridge between research and the practical implementation of solutions in society,” says Morten Dyrlund Damgaard from the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering.

He continues:

“PowerFactor is an excellent example of an interdisciplinary project where we can test solutions under realistic conditions and generate the knowledge needed to make these large energy facilities an integral part of future energy systems and carbon cycles.”

Professor Björn Andresen from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering sees the project as an important step towards a more flexible and resilient energy system.

“PowerFactor is helping to make it easier to integrate large-scale Power-to-X facilities into the electricity system. By combining our expertise in grid connection technologies with strong partners from both industry and academia, we can help reduce uncertainty and support the green transition in practice,” he says.

Over the coming years, production of green fuels is expected to grow significantly as society works to reduce CO₂ emissions from transport and industry.

The researchers hope that PowerFactor will provide new insights into how electricity systems can support this development. The ambition is to create a stronger foundation for future investments in Power-to-X while strengthening the connection between renewable energy production and the infrastructure needed to turn the green transition into reality.

Power-to-X technologies make it possible to convert renewable electricity into hydrogen, methanol and other green fuels. These technologies are expected to play a key role in decarbonising sectors where direct electrification is difficult, including aviation, maritime transport and heavy road transport.

Contact

Professor Björn Andresen
Tel.: +4593508115
Mail: bjra@ece.au.dk

Projektchef Morten Dyrlund Damgaard
Mail: mdd@bce.au.dk