The most frequently asked questions answered for you

What is the SmartEnergy Technology (SET)?

The SmartEnergy Technology is a modified power-to-x process which ensures an emission-free, economical, (partly) self-sufficient and decentralised energy supply with electricity, heat and cold from renewable energy.

What is the ZeroEmission Technology (ZET)?

We call the unique, emission-free burning of our regenerative natural gas within the SET, developed by EXYTRON, ZeroEmission Technology. The resulting carbon dioxide is led back into the SmartEnergy Technology process and reused time and again in a closed cycle to produce methane. In addition, modified combustion using oxygen produces neither nitrogen oxides nor particulate matter. Therefore, the ZET is our key to energy supply without emissions.

What is power-to-x?

Power-to-x describes various technologies with which surplus energy, for example from photovoltaic, hydro or wind power, can be stored and/or otherwise used. Examples include power-to-gas, power-to-liquid or power-to-heat. In the latter case, surplus energy can be stored and/or used in the form of heat energy through heating elements or heating pumps.

What is power-to-gas?

Power-to-gas (PtG or also P2G) describes a chemical process which produces fuel gas through electrolysis and downstream methanation using regeneratively produced electricity. This fuel gas is hydrogen in simple form and then methane through a reaction with carbon dioxide in the downstream methanation.
EXYTRON GmbH has developed a power-to-gas system which produces a high-purity, regenerative natural gas. This methane can be stored decentrally in gas tanks or on the public gas grid.

What is the difference between traditional power-to-gas systems and the SmartEnergy Technology (SET/ZET)?

Until now, power-to-gas systems have required a CO2 source for methanation e.g. biogas systems, coal-fired power plants. This means the systems are dependent on location and often, depending on the project, the heat created in the system cannot be used. For this reason, the electricity-gas-electricity efficiency without using heat in the individual steps of these power-to-gas systems is only very low at around 30%. Our SET can be used decentrally through the patented feedback of the CO2 from its own combustion. Therefore, it is directly ready for use at the customer’s site which allows the use of the heat. This means that the overall utilisation ratio of electricity and gas efficiency can be increased to over 90% with the use of heat/cold from the renewable energy used.

What can the SmartEnergy Technology be used for? Are there upper and lower limits?

The SmartEnergy Technology is used in various pilot projects for emission-free and decentralised energy supply. At present, however, this is only the case for residential areas of around 3,000m2 or more, corresponding commercial facilities, neighbourhood/residential concepts or power plant solutions, etc. The reason for this is that various components of the system (e.g. the electrolyser, reactors, compressors) cause costs that would currently exceed the financial framework when planning a single-family house, for example. We are working on technical solutions to also make our power-to-gas systems/power-to-x systems economical in smaller applications for the future. In addition, there will also be scaling effects regarding the number of installations and standardisations. It can therefore be assumed that the SET will become increasingly interesting for smaller applications with time.
There are almost no upper limits to the capacities of the SET because the system is modularly expandable and dimensional scaling leads to improved cost effectiveness.

Is the SET suitable for completely self-sufficient energy supply?

Yes. An autonomous energy supply with SET is possible if there are sufficient renewable energies available in order to cover the entire demand for energy of the object less up to 10% efficiency losses. The system must be designed so that the longest period of time in which no renewable energies are available can be bridged.
The system is therefore even interesting for areas without the corresponding infrastructure. For example, in the absence of gas and electricity grids in large regions or in residential projects/neighbourhoods where real and not only financial full supply with electricity/heat helps to implement the goals of the energy revolution in the building sector or in the area of isolated supply.

Which markets are interesting for using the SmartEnergy Technology?

The SET can be used anywhere where electricity from renewable energies is available and where consumers of electricity, heat or cold are present.

Can the SET also be integrated into existing energy supply systems?

Yes. Existing energy supply systems can be integrated into the SET. Certain technical requirements must be met, and the integration must make both economic and technological sense. Above all, systems with a high need for heat or cold are attractive economically.

What advantages result from the combination of SET and biogas systems?

With the SET, the proportion of CO2 in biogas can be transformed into regenerative natural gas by using hydrogen in the EXYTRON reactor. As a result, the proportion of methane in biogas can be increased to more than 98%. In comparison, currently the proportion of methane in biogas is between 50 and 60%. The increased calorific value delivers two options for increasing the efficiency of the biogas system. Either more electricity is generated from the biogas or less gas/biomass is required for the same yield. This increase in efficiency reduces both the consumption of valuable land for the substrate and the areas of harmful monocultures.

What is sector coupling?

SSector coupling or integrated energy is the intelligent networking of the three sectors of the energy industry: electricity, heat supply and traffic. A higher share of renewable energies can be integrated through the synergistic effects of these sectors. Therefore, sector coupling is also seen as the key concept in the energy revolution and the development of energy systems with 100% renewable energies.