Power-to-X

Power-to-X (also P2X and P2Y) are electricity conversion, energy storage, and reconversion pathways from surplus renewable energy. By linking the power sector to other energy sectors, power-to-X conversion technologies offer the possibilities to exploit synergies across the whole energy as intended with the concept of sector coupling and fully integrated smart energy systems.

The X in the terminology can refer to one of the following: power-to-ammonia, power-to-chemicals, power-to-fuel, power-to-gas (power-to-hydrogen, power-to-methane) power-to-liquid (synthetic fuel, particularly carbon-neutral fuel), power to food, power-to-heat. Electric vehicle charging, space heating and cooling, and water heating can be shifted in time to match generation, forms of demand response that can be called power-to-mobility and power-to-heat.

Collectively power-to-X schemes which use surplus power fall under the heading of flexibility measures and are particularly useful in energy systems with high shares of renewable generation and/or with strong decarbonization targets. A large number of pathways and technologies are encompassed by the term. In 2016 the German government funded a €30 million first-phase research project into power-to-X options.