IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v340y2025ics0360544225047243.html

Performance analysis of direct air capture-based renewable power-to-methanol (P2M) system in different regions of China: An annual intermittency investigation

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Lanlan
  • Han, Kai
  • Wang, Yongzhen
  • Han, Yibo
  • Cui, Tao
  • Xia, Yuyao

Abstract

The direct air capture (DAC) integrated power-to-methanol (P2M) is a promising approach to reverse the carbon emission and energy demand. However, the intermittent character of renewable power and low response speed of DAC bring operation challenge. To evaluate the overall performance under different response time-scale, in this study, the operation strategies based on DAC stages, the number of its units are proposed from the view of reducing the energy storage of battery (strategy Ⅰ) or enhancing the amount of methanol production (in strategy Ⅱ) according to the fluctuating renewable power. Then the annual overall system performance is further distinguished in regions located at Northwest China, which own excellent renewable energy resource and have unsatisfactory wind, solar power curtailment rate. Results present the number of running DAC units ranges between 8 and 33, simultaneously the running quantity of total occupies 72.1 % and 89.0 % yearly under strategy Ⅰ and Ⅱ respectively in Urumqi. The daily averaged amount of captured CO2 are 1297.5 and 1784.1 mol respectively at a typical day, showing the greater quantity of running DAC units is the main reason resulting the lower storage capacity of CO2 and higher storage capacity of battery. Furthermore, the maximum captured CO2 amount appears in Lhasa, which reach 800.3 t corresponding to the methanol productions are 523.3 t under strategy Ⅱ. The electricity transferred to the external gird takes a large proportion (i.e., exceed 75.0 %) in all selected regions, further proving the superior potential of DAC-based P2M system while dealing with the abandoned renewable electricity.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Lanlan & Han, Kai & Wang, Yongzhen & Han, Yibo & Cui, Tao & Xia, Yuyao, 2025. "Performance analysis of direct air capture-based renewable power-to-methanol (P2M) system in different regions of China: An annual intermittency investigation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:340:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225047243
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139082
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544225047243
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2025.139082?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Daoudi, Mohammed, 2025. "Hybrid wind energy and hydrogen system for direct CO2 air capture: A case study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    2. Bos, M.J. & Kersten, S.R.A. & Brilman, D.W.F., 2020. "Wind power to methanol: Renewable methanol production using electricity, electrolysis of water and CO2 air capture," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    3. Long, Yunxia & Chen, Yaning & Xu, Changchun & Li, Zhi & Zhu, Jianyu & Liu, Yongchang & Wang, Hongyu, 2025. "Enhancing and stabilizing effects of low-carbon models on the synergistic benefits of wind and solar energy: Evidence from China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 395(C).
    4. Ji, Y. & Liu, W. & Yong, J.Y. & Zhang, X.J. & Jiang, L., 2023. "Solar-assisted temperature vacuum swing adsorption for direct air capture: Effect of relative humidity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    5. Han, Jian & Yu, Jun & Xue, Zhaoteng & Wu, Guisheng & Mao, Dongsen, 2024. "Highly efficient CO2 hydrogenation to methanol over Cu–Ce1-xZrxO2 catalysts prepared by an eco-friendly and facile solid-phase grinding method," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    6. Chen, S. & Shi, W.K. & Yong, J.Y. & Zhuang, Y. & Lin, Q.Y. & Gao, N. & Zhang, X.J. & Jiang, L., 2023. "Numerical study on a structured packed adsorption bed for indoor direct air capture," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    7. Brunner, Christoph & Deac, Gerda & Braun, Sebastian & Zöphel, Christoph, 2020. "The future need for flexibility and the impact of fluctuating renewable power generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 1314-1324.
    8. Lopes, Bruno M. & Costa, André M.G. & Uturbey, Wadaed, 2024. "Simulation with performance evaluation of photovoltaic production using long term monthly irradiation data," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    9. Rodriguez-Pastor, D.A. & Soltero, V.M. & Chacartegui, R., 2025. "Green methanol production from photovoltaics in Europe," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    10. Li, Chao & Gao, Yuzheng & Liu, Hongtao & Zhai, Rongrong, 2025. "Energy, exergy, environmental, and economic analysis of a novel hydrogen production system integrating concentrated photovoltaic thermal collectors and wind turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    11. Bridier, Laurent & Hernández-Torres, David & David, Mathieu & Lauret, Phillipe, 2016. "A heuristic approach for optimal sizing of ESS coupled with intermittent renewable sources systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 155-165.
    12. Nouri, Amirali & Tohidi, Farzad & Chitsaz, Ata, 2025. "Integration of biomass gasification and MEA-based CO2 capture for sustainable power and methanol production: Energy, exergy, and economic analysis and optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 319(C).
    13. Zhang, Maoxiang & Li, Dandan & Zheng, Pu & Wu, Zhibing & Li, Yun & Yao, Congfei & Chen, Jian & Sun, Li & Feng, Lejun & Huang, Weijia, 2025. "Is the hydrogen still green after the renewable power-hydrogen-methanol-hydrogen route?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    14. Keller, Roger & Baader, Florian Joseph & Bardow, André & Müller, Martin & Peters, Ralf, 2025. "Experimental demonstration of dynamic demand response scheduling for PEM-electrolyzers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 393(C).
    15. Wang, Mingyuan & Zhou, Jinzhi & Ji, Jie & Song, Jian & Ji, Wenhui, 2025. "Performance assessment of solar-driven electrolytic hydrogen production systems enhanced by CdTe PV and sun-tracking device," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 390(C).
    16. Yang, Lihua & Wu, Xiao, 2024. "Net-zero carbon configuration approach for direct air carbon capture based integrated energy system considering dynamic characteristics of CO2 adsorption and desorption," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).
    17. Kariuki, Boniface Wainaina & Emam, Mohamed & Ookawara, Shinichi & Hassan, Hamdy, 2024. "New hybrid system of PV/T, solar collectors, PEM electrolyzer, and HDH for hydrogen and freshwater production: Seasonal performance investigation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    18. Zhang, Lanlan & Li, Sheng & Wang, Yongzhen & Song, Kuo & Han, Kai & Ye, Zhaonian & Wang, Junyao, 2024. "A multi-node thermodynamic model on temperature-vacuum swing adsorption (TVSA) for carbon capture: Process design and performance analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Li & Dou, Binlin & Zhang, Hua & Zhang, Liang & Chen, Na & Chen, Haisheng & Xu, Yujie & Li, Wei, 2025. "Design, modelling and experimental validation of integrated hydrogen-ammonia-methanol multi-carrier energy conversion for the emerging solid oxide fuel cell with waste heat recovery technology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    2. Du, Tao & Xu, Yunbo & Ma, Hongsheng & Li, Yang & Li, Zhenxuan & Wang, Changjian, 2026. "Performance assessment of photovoltaic/thermal module coupled PEM electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on nanofluids and composite phase change materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 402(PB).
    3. Lai, Fei & Wang, Mingyuan & Zhang, Tongtong & Song, Jian & Zhou, Jinzhi, 2026. "Techno-economic evaluation of solar-driven PEM water electrolysis systems for hydrogen production: Comparison and regional insights," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    4. Li, Chao & Yang, Cheng & Xu, Kaishuai & Gao, Yuzheng & Sun, Yang & Liu, Hongtao & Zhai, Rongrong, 2025. "Annual performance analysis and optimization of a novel wind-solar hybrid hydrogen production system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    5. Li, Chunfeng & Deng, Shuai & Cao, Xiangkun Elvis & Li, Shuangjun, 2026. "Accelerating widespread adoption of direct air capture based on system perspective: Thermodynamic limits, geographical deployment, and clean energy integration," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    6. Wang, Qian & Du, Caiyi & Zhang, Xueguang, 2024. "Direct air capture capacity configuration and cost allocation based on sharing mechanism," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 374(C).
    7. Zhu, Lin & Ji, Xiaoqin & Yang, Dechang & Dehghanian, Payman & Zhang, Lijun, 2026. "Optimized scheduling strategies for integrated energy systems in agricultural parks with near-zero carbon emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 403(PA).
    8. Geng, Wangning & Yuan, Jiming & Zhang, Lige & Hong, Chunfeng & Qian, Xinyao & Yao, Huichao & Du, Xian-Long & Li, Tao & Wang, Xiulin & Wang, Jian-Qiang & Xiao, Guoping, 2025. "Modeling and optimization of a novel power-to-methanol system based on SOEC CO2/H2O co-electrolysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 395(C).
    9. Maitanova, Nailya & Schlüters, Sunke & Hanke, Benedikt & von Maydell, Karsten, 2024. "An analytical method for quantifying the flexibility potential of decentralised energy systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 364(C).
    10. Rahmat, Yoga & Maier, Simon & Moser, Francisco & Raab, Moritz & Hoffmann, Christian & Repke, Jens-Uwe & Dietrich, Ralph-Uwe, 2023. "Techno-economic and exergy analysis of e-methanol production under fixed operating conditions in Germany," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).
    11. Svitnič, Tibor & Sundmacher, Kai, 2022. "Renewable methanol production: Optimization-based design, scheduling and waste-heat utilization with the FluxMax approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    12. Roy, Sanjoy, 2024. "Standard log-capture differentials as performance metrics for deepwater wave power generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    13. Mudhafar, Mudhafar A.H., 2025. "Evaluation of a novel high-performance HP-HDH desalination system integrated with PV module and electrolyzer for fresh water and hydrogen productions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    14. Paulo Fernandes & Alex Reis & Loana N. Velasco & Tânia M. Francisco & Ênio C. Resende & Luiz C. G. Freitas, 2024. "Evaluation of a Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System at the University of Brasília Based on Brazilian Standard for Performance Monitoring and Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-14, December.
    15. Inac, Selcuk & Midilli, Adnan, 2025. "On geothermal and wind energy integrated methanol production by using green hydrogen," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).
    16. Farajiamiri, Mina & Meyer, Jörn-Christian & Walther, Grit, 2023. "Multi-objective optimization of renewable fuel supply chains regarding cost, land use, and water use," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    17. Lo Basso, Gianluigi & Pastore, Lorenzo Mario & Sgaramella, Antonio & Mojtahed, Ali & Ciancio, Alessandro & Massulli, Axel Riccardo & Vespasiano, Domiziana & de Santoli, Livio, 2025. "Status and perspectives of hydrogen role for decarbonising industry: a comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    18. Yajing Gao & Jing Zhu & Huaxin Cheng & Fushen Xue & Qing Xie & Peng Li, 2016. "Study of Short-Term Photovoltaic Power Forecast Based on Error Calibration under Typical Climate Categories," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-15, July.
    19. Rezo, D. & Glaser, M. & Postweiler, P. & Engelpracht, M. & von der Assen, N., 2026. "Control strategies to optimize adsorption-based direct air capture under varying weather conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 411(C).
    20. Mounir Alliche & Redha Rebhi & Noureddine Kaid & Younes Menni & Houari Ameur & Mustafa Inc & Hijaz Ahmad & Giulio Lorenzini & Ayman A. Aly & Sayed K. Elagan & Bassem F. Felemban, 2021. "Estimation of the Wind Energy Potential in Various North Algerian Regions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-13, November.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:340:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225047243. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.