Power-to-X - requirements for materials, testing and storage

Power-to-X is a crucial part of the green transition of our energy supply. It will place great demands on the companies developing and maturing products and technologies to support this transition.

The market for Power-to-X is characterised by developing, uncertain, and investment-heavy technologies. For Power-to-X to become both a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to existing energy sources, it is a prerequisite to scale up the current electrolysis technology. Furthermore, the plants must also be able to convert green electricity from wind and solar into e-fuels and e-chemicals, such as methane, methanol, and ammonia, in addition to hydrogen.

Companies supplying materials, equipment and tests for Power-to-X technology are therefore challenged, as we do not necessarily know the requirements that materials and equipment must be able to comply with. All suppliers to the industry, from entrepreneurs to SMEs and the large existing players in the energy sector can benefit from our impartial knowledge and competencies that cover the entire supply chain. A demonstration project might be what your particular business needs.

We assist

manufacturers of equipment to produce hydrogen, e-fuels and e-chemicals;
system integrators and operators;
operators within transportation and suppliers of other infrastructure, e.g., pipes and plant, etc.;
manufacturers and operators of billing meters and service stations;
end-users of green fuels produced through Power-to-X;

so that the energy ends up safely at the consumer’s billing meter.

Update you knowledge on the challenges we face when preparing the gas network for hydrogen. The gas network is one of the most profitable ways to transport hydrogen.

Metrology for measuring green energy

You can draw on our experience as an independent party in terms of

type approval of meters and measuring systems (MID and OIML)
type tests
verification
calibration
audit
legal metrology
standardisation.

As experts in flow measurement, we can facilitate testing and type approval of newly developed meters, e.g., for hydrogen and e-fuels. We are the first in the world to have type-approved hydrogen meters and filling stations in accordance with the new OIML R 139:2018 recommendation.

We promote standardisation and develop legal metrology in discussions with authorities, meter manufacturers, and operators across the entire Power-to-X value chain (measurement of electricity, hydrogen, heat, fuel and gas) for households, industries, and transportation.

We have extensive experience with and facilities for flow measurement of gases and liquid fuels. This includes the world’s largest loop for high-pressure calibration and flow meters, the MEGA loop.

Materials and components

We can assist with:

material and component tests in hydrogen, ammonia
testing and documentation of alternative material choices
manufacturing and testing of electrolysis electrodes in our production facilities
testing of the hydrogen sensitivity and hydrogen permeability of materials
fracture mechanical tests and fatigue tests
simulation and modelling of flow, vibrations, and mechanical properties in different media
optimisation of your design by simulation, enabling you to select materials with high durability
efficiency measurement, characterization, and production of electrode surfaces with catalysts for electrolysis.

In addition, we help to incorporate safety aspects early in the development process and in integration with other processes and systems.

When your focus is on longer life cycles, larger device systems, reduced costs, especially material costs, then our specialised testing facilities and knowledge of materials, processes, and surfaces can benefit you.

In particular, the resistance of materials to hydrogen embrittlement and the concentration of hydrogen permeability, depending on pressure and temperature, is closely monitored in Power-to-X contexts.

Maritime

Power-to-X will also play a key role in international shipping when it comes to phasing out fossil fuels in favour of a greener form of energy. Here, you can draw on our extensive knowledge of combustion, corrosion and emissions.

The energy islands currently under development will become important hubs in the Power-to-X strategy, and you can get assistance with storing and transporting the green energy, as well as with connection to the current gas and district heating networks.

Emissions

We help companies to document critical emissions and describe the actual emissions with methods and measurement systems. This is to form the basis for the companies’ development of reduction solutions, so that they can comply with existing and future requirements for limit values for new green fuels.

Companies in the industrial, transportation and energy fields can be assisted in developing carbon-neutral solutions with the lowest possible environmental footprint.

If you are a manufacturer of new fuels, engine and cleaning technologies as well as CCUS technologies, we can assist in:

measuring and documenting critical emissions
developing reduction solutions
predicting, documenting, and reducing emissions with simulation and calculation models
calculating and documenting fossil and biogenic carbon
comparing environmental impacts of different types of fuel using emission factors

Although the new green fuels are carbon-neutral, they are not emission-free. Therefore, the entire environmental impact must be recognized.

Life cycle analysis (LCA) of products and services

With an With an LCA, you can document and account for the environmental impacts of your product or service. , you can document and account for the environmental impacts of your product or service.

We can help you with a solid foundation on which you can base your decisions when delivering products or services to the Power-to-X transition or technology.

For example, we can help you to solve issues such as:

What are the environmental consequences of your solution model?
How does your product or service affect the environment throughout its life cycle?
How do you document the green messages in your marketing?
How sustainable is your green business model?

In addition to the life cycle analysis itself, we can also assist you with:

LCA Review
Eco-design
Carbon footprint

Inspection of pressure equipment

It is important that your pressure equipment in Power-to-X systems comply with all applicable requirements, so that it is safe for staff to use it and so that the environment does not suffer damage.

Pressure equipment includes:

Pressure vessels
Pipelines
Valves, safety valves, etc
Boiler and process plants (units)
Transportable tanks
Filling stations

FORCE Certification A/S can, as an independent third-party body, supervise and assist you in assessing whether your pressure equipment is safe and sound and whether requirements and rules for layout and use are complied with.

Our expertise covers, among other things:

Test body for fitting, rebuilding, and repairs
Inspection body for installation, inspections, periodic checks, operational suitability and service life investigations, as well as conformity assessment of the requirements for operation of steam boilers without constant monitoring
Conformity assessments

Risk management

We hold vast experience in solving all kinds of failure and damage analysis. Hence, our experts are aware of all kinds of failure modes, which may exist as risks in your projects today. We are ready in assisting you in identifying the risk, handling them, and thus avoid serious failures and damages in your Power-to-X project.

Risk management in the Power-to-X industry

Hydrogen technologies in common European development

FORCE Technology is a member of the ECHA (European Clean Hydrogen Alliance), which aims to bring together renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production, demands within industry, mobility and other sectors, as well as hydrogen transmission and distribution, thereby enabling ambitious implementation of hydrogen technologies.

Lisbeth Brøde Jepsen

Sales and Business Development Manager, Power-to-X

T. +45 30 58 99 66 Contact Lisbeth

*Message

*E-mail

*First name

*Last name

*Job title

*Company

*Phone

*Country

I accept that FORCE Technology collects my data.

Please do not write any personal or sensitive information in the message field. Read our Data Protection Policy.

HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGIES IN COMMON EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT

FORCE Technology is a member of ECHA (European Clean Hydrogen Alliance), ECHA aims to bring together renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production, demands within industry, mobility and other sectors, as well as hydrogen transmission and distribution, thereby building an ambitious implementation of hydrogen technologies.

Power-to-X

Power-to-X is a crucial part of the green transition of our energy supply. But Power-to-X places great demands on products and technologies.

Power-to-X

Webinar: Modular PtX systems in harsh environments
In this webinar, we will discuss best practice and do’s and don’t’s in in terms of design and materials choices to achieve a long lifetime in an offshore environment.

PtX technologies in offshore environments

With the emphasis on the green transition and recently also security concerns the push away from fossil fuels and towards renewable alternatives has gained significant momentum. Power-to-x (PtX) technologies is expected to be a key component in the future energy mix to ensure a stable energy output despite a large increase in the use of intermittent energy sources. This can be achieved by hydrogen production in electrolysis plants in times of high energy production and low demand and subsequent energy production from the hydrogen when and where the energy is needed.

These PtX facilities will increasingly have to be placed in coastal or offshore environment, for example on designated energy-islands or directly on offshore wind turbines. The marine environment places hard demands on the materials and design of components. This is greatly exacerbated by the difficult of accessing and performing service on installations offshore possibly combined with ATEX or high voltage areas.

Modular solutions where the sensitive equipment is encased in a shipping container, or a shell developed for the purpose, that can be delivered to the point of service have been attracting attention and is likely to be the solution of choice in some cases. However, to make the solution viable, and not overly resource demanding, the container, its content, and surrounding installations should be able to withstand 25 years of service at sea with only limited maintenance. To achieve this significant development is required.
- Watch webinar (48:24)
Hydrogen in pipelines
The gas network is one of the most profitable ways to transport hydrogen. Thus, the Danish gas network will be crucial in connection to the purchase, storage, and distribution of a significant part of the energy produced from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, which may subsequently be converted into hydrogen.

The workshop, will focus on both the challenges that are known and where we have solutions, but also the challenges that we lack knowledge of and solutions to. We have gathered a number of speakers who will explain the various challenges and start the debate.
- Watch webinar (1:59:27)
Materials compability in hydrogen environments
To follow up on the immense interest on the subject since our workshop in January 2021, we hosted a webinar on materials compability in hydrogen environments. Focus was on metallic materials and possibilities of mitigating risk by e.g. coatings. Presentations were covered by a range of our specialists.
Topics covered during the webinar;
- How does hydrogen cause damage in metallic materials?
- How can we test to mitigate risk and define the limits of applications?
- Case on hydrogen induced stress cracking testing
- Guidelines and standards – who decides what is safe?
- Permeation testing and theory on metals. Does hydrogen even enter the steel, and then what?
- Permeation of hydrogen through coatings and elastomers – are they affected?
The webiunar consisted of 4 parts:

Part 1: Introduction
- Watch part 1 (04:19)
Part 2: Materials compability in hydrogen environments
- Watch part 2 (33:47)
Part 3: Permeation testing
- Watch part 3 (10:07)
Part 4: Coatings and elastomers in hydrogen environments
- Watch part 4 (14:39)
Online workshop: Metrology for large scale hydrogen production
Power-to-X is an essential part of the green transition in the Danish energy sector. For decades the Danish wind turbine industry has demonstrated an ability to establish and sustain a technology leadership. Power-to-X will extend this leadership with new value chains from upstream green power production to consumers.

Key elements of these value chains are large scale hydrogen production, development of the Power-to-X infrastructure and the knowhow required to operate the infrastructure in optimal coordination between power production and power consumption.

Water electrolysis is a well-established technology that has been used industrially for a century. What roles do metrology and instrumentation play in the scale up of water electrolysis for safe and cost-effective green hydrogen production? Are there any gabs between the available laboratory facilities and the needs seen by the industry? Upscaling puts more focus on custody transfer, fiscal measurements and needs for independent 3rd party control of instrumentation.
- Watch webinar (1:58:17)
Fuel cell and hydrogen tool box part 1
Watch our short webinar at FORCE Technology on fuel cells and water electrolysis with component manufacturing point of view, part 1.

Do not take a detour on P2X – Get a 15 year head start.

You will be introduced to some of our manufacturing methods, testing and R&D. And you will get acquainted with our specialists as well.
- Watch webinar (18:32)
Fuel cell and hydrogen tool box part 2
Watch our short webinar at FORCE Technology on fuel cells and water electrolysis with component manufacturing point of view, part 1.

Do not take a detour on P2X – Get a 15 year head start.

You will be introduced to some of our manufacturing methods, testing and R&D. And you will get acquainted with our specialists as well.
- Watch webinar (19:49)
Legal metrology for metering of e-fuels
The environmental challenge has initiated a large number of projects aiming at producing hydrogen or e-fuels. Join this webinar to hear about metering, verification, and type approval.

Some proposals intend to inject hydrogen into the natural gas grid resulting in households receiving up to 25 % hydrogen. Other proposes to produce liquid e-fuels in terms of synthetic oils.

The key “new” fuels are all based on hydrogen.

Consumer protection is a critical parameter. Legal metrology aims at securing the confidence in metering for the end user. The Legal metrology fundamentals is a type testing setup and a periodically verification after installation.

Watch this webinar to hear about metering, verification, and type approval.
- Watch webinar (50:15)
Safe hydrogen service
PtX and hydrogen infrastructure is an area in rapid development. At FORCE Technology we focus on exploring the limits for safe service in hydrogen.

Currently, standards and regulations are not fully developed and suppliers and other stakeholders in the hydrogen infrastructure need guidelines. Rather than purely theoretical studies, we focus on testing as a means to ensure safe service in hydrogen.

DGC joins the webinar as our partner in establishing the Test Centre for Hydrogen Technology in collaboration with FORCE Technology. Watch our webinar to learn more about test options and our recommendations for safe hydrogen service.
- Watch webinar (1:00:04)