Optimized Use of Polygeneration Plants in a Highly Coupled Energy System Model

Polygeneration plants offer a flexible sector coupling option with the additional benefit of utilizing currently unused biogenic residues or not recyclable waste. The entrained flow gasification-based path e.g. promises largescale handling of various feedstock while keeping high syngas qualities for cogeneration of heat and power or downstream synthesis. Furthermore, the ability to integrate power enables a supply of flexibility for volatile power generation by renewable technologies. Existing works in the fields of energy system simulation and process simulation show either the system perspective without detailed process knowledge or vice versa the process perspective, neglecting the complex influence of a highly coupled energy system. This study uses the results of an extensive process simulation of power and biomass-to-x systems and a highly coupled model of the German energy system. The combination is used to simulate various future scenarios, to evaluate the plants behavior under different boundary conditions and to benchmark its operation against competing technologies. The results show that the polygeneration plant is used to provide flexibility in times of extreme renewable power generation, while reducing the demand of material-intensive technologies, e.g. battery storage systems. In addition, the high level of detail allows an in-depth evaluation of the plant design, like the addition of electrolysis-based hydrogen to syngas instead of conventional syngas shift. The use of polygeneration plants overall results in a decrease of the relative energy system cost and need of carbon capture technologies. In summary, it can be shown that polygeneration plants can provide system-serving flexibility to all sectors.     «

Polygeneration plants offer a flexible sector coupling option with the additional benefit of utilizing currently unused biogenic residues or not recyclable waste. The entrained flow gasification-based path e.g. promises largescale handling of various feedstock while keeping high syngas qualities for cogeneration of heat and power or downstream synthesis. Furthermore, the ability to integrate power enables a supply of flexibility for volatile power generation by renewable technologies. Existi...     »