Chemical energy storage enables the transformation of fossil energy systems to sustainability

Abstract

The quest for the sustainable energy transition requires replacing fossil fuels by renewable electricity (RE). Systems of energy supply consist of both electrons and molecules as energy carriers. It is thus essential to interconvert both types of carriers. Capitalizing on the intrinsic efficiency of using electrons it is desirable to electrify in the sustainable system more end energy applications than in the fossil system being fully based upon molecular carriers. This does not eliminate the need to retain molecules as energy carriers in a substantial fraction of a whole energy system. The application “energy storage” as example compensates the volatility of RE and is thus critical to any energy transition. Chemical energy conversion (CEC) is the critical science and technology to eliminate fossil fuels, to create circular energy economies and to enable global exchange of RE. This paper describes generic structural features and dimensions of CEC.