Educational Modules on the Power-to-Gas Concept Demonstrate a Path to Renewable Energy Futures

Abstract

A significant challenge for the global community is the increasing demand for clean and renewable energy technologies. However, a lack of knowledge of these technologies threatens to impede their adoption. The development of cheap, effective, and easy-to-use chemical and electrochemical storage technologies is crucial if countries are to move away from fossil fuel electricity production. In this paper, we describe simple classroom-based learning systems that can be used to demonstrate the power-to-gas concept and its ability to greatly enhance the practicability and sustainability of other renewable energy systems. Most renewable energy systems can only produce energy sporadically and at specific locations; however, the power-to-gas concept uses hydrogen, obtained by electrolysis, to produce methane via the Sabatier reaction. We also demonstrate how this “dream reaction”through the use of renewable energies such as solar and windcan produce industrially and energetically desirable methane from hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The power-to-gas concept can be easily replicated in both educational and informal settings to encourage more grassroots and scholastic interest in the development of these vital technologies.

Demonstrating Concepts in Catalysis, Renewable Energy, and Chemical Safety with the Catalytic Oxidation of Hydrogen

“…The chemical energy released from this exergonic reaction can also be converted into usable electricity with H 2 O as the only byproduct by using a Pt-containing electrocatalyst in a PEM fuel cell device as shown in Figure b. Furthermore, adding an educational H 2 O electrolyzer kit to the demonstration apparatus for on-demand generation of H 2 and O 2 allows the audience to see how H 2 can function as an energy storage medium for electrical grid balancing by using surplus renewable energy from wind and photovoltaic sources to drive the electrolysis reaction. − …”

“…Then, by dividing W el for the electrochemical reaction from the heat released by the enthalpy of reaction (Δ H r ), the fuel cell efficiency can be calculated according to . Additionally, the rate of hydrogen consumption ( r , moles s –1 ) can be calculated − by measuring the current ( i , C s –1 ) produced according to .…”

Deriving the Turnover Frequency of Aminoxyl-Catalyzed Alcohol Oxidation by Chronoamperometry: An Introduction to Organic Electrocatalysis

“…Electrochemistry is one of the oldest and most fundamental methods to promote and analyze redox reactions . Recent advances in the electrosynthesis of organic compounds demonstrate that electrochemistry is a powerful tool to access unique reactivity and investigate complex mechanisms. − Investigation of these redox reactions and their coupled chemical reactions can play a valuable role in improving electrochemical reactions and chemical reactions that involve electron transfer and/or redox steps . Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is the most widely used electrochemical technique for studying electrode processes. − The flexible time window and forward and reverse scans of CV make it a powerful technique to study the mechanism of reactions that occur at an electrode surface; however, extracting quantitative information from CV data can be complicated. , Chronoamperometry (CA) is another standard electrochemical technique for understanding electrode reaction processes .…”

“…2−8 Investigation of these redox reactions and their coupled chemical reactions can play a valuable role in improving electrochemical reactions and chemical reactions that involve electron transfer and/or redox steps. 6 Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is the most widely used electrochemical technique for studying electrode processes. 9−12 The flexible time window and forward and reverse scans of CV make it a powerful technique to study the mechanism of reactions that occur at an electrode surface; however, extracting quantitative information from CV data can be complicated.…”

Teaching fuel cells in the chemistry classroom - A brief survey on the current situation in German schools

“…They focus on the expertise around hydrogen and methanol fuel cells and suggest possible experiments with kits to record characteristic curves, e.g. (Geitmann & Borsum, 2014;Küter, Höller, & Voigt, 2012) or present an educational report on the Power to Gas concept for example (Rubner, Berry, Grofe, & Oetken, 2019). They do not deal empirically with the actual situation of fuel cells.…”