Hydrogen – methane – methanol

Why methanol? It is liquid at room temperature. The other options are methane and hydrogen. Both are only an option at huge underground storages and far too expensive for decentralized energy systems. Here we are suddenly in the power-to-hydrogen, methane, and methanol debate. Hydrogen has the highest power-to-efficiency because no DAC - Direct Air Capture of CO2 is required. From a pipe in the bathroom comes 10 L of water per minute containing 1.11 kg hydrogen. Very simple. But You have to suck 4,400 m³ air through a filter to capture as much CO2 as containing the 1 kg carbon. This decreases the efficiency. But the higher power-to-hydrogen efficiency comes at the price of far more storage costs, because the existing 25 km³ underground gas storage in Germany would contain only a third of the energy when filled with hydrogen. When this 25 km³ (at standard pressure) underground gas storage in Germany is not enough, additional storage would be far cheaper with methanol. The 25 km³ underground gas storage in Germany is designed for the fossil energy system: delivery is constant all over the year, but in summer there is less demand than delivery, and in winter there is more demand than delivery. The difference is covered by the 25 km³ gas storage. As the new installation numbers suggest, we are going to a very heavy photovoltaic-oriented energy transition requiring more storage for summer-winter balancing.

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Abstract
	To meet the necessary cost optimization targets, we cannot hold the energy problem separate from all other problems: another major problem is housing.

Introduction
	Many imaginations about our future had been created in the past with completely different parameters. Unchecked conclusions from the past endanger our future with unbearable costs.

My personal experience with a profitability transition
	Birds can fly without knowing all the terms of aerodynamics. I reacted with my design change to an ongoing “profitability transition” without knowing the term at this time.

Energy transition
	The long way from random electricity from sun and wind towards 24×365 electricity. Overseen profitability transitions have to be considered as major accidents.

Solar yield and conversion to 24×365 electricity
	The wide range of solar yield becomes much wider after the conversion of gross yield to 24×365 electricity. 6 examples from our research of 50 locations.

The GEMINI principle: double usage of land
	No better solar power plant, no better housing possible on the same ground is the ultimate target of the GEMINI principle.

Off-grid fast charging settlements
	It can start small, somewhere in a village, with a single GEMINI house with a big PV carport and 100 kW DC charging.

Energy-intensive industry
	I once developed a scale for off-grid solar possibilities depending on photovoltaic size. But now is to make a big jump upwards on this scale: running, energy-intensive industry.

Agriculture: How many square meters does a human need for his food?
	Mankind started as hunters and gatherers. 12,000 years ago, 500,000 m² to 2,500,000 m² per human. With the agricultural revolution, the land use was reduced by 2 magnitudes.

Conclusion
	All parameters are in a constant state of change. We have to check all the parameters and predict the development for the predictable future.

References
	Roland Mösl: Energy Optimised Settlements – Enabler for Necessary Civilization Targets, Graz 2025