PtX and district heating :
In Esbjerg, the "energy garbage man" is ready - but an overall Danish plan is missing

Europe's largest Power-to-X facility will be located in Esbjerg. That was Monday's big energy news. However, the technology is still in its infancy. One of the known disadvantages of it is that there is a huge loss of energy during the process, where large amounts of hot water are produced as a residual product.

In Denmark's energy metropole, DIN Forsyning is ready to utilize the surplus heat that will come when 1 GW PtX goes into production in 2024. This also arouses enthusiasm at Dansk Fjernvarme, which, however, requires a strategy from the government.

In Esbjerg there is already a plan for what will become of the hot water that the 1 GW PtX plant will create. The local multi-supply company DIN Forsyning for Varde Municipality and Esbjerg Municipality is part of what could be the future of district heating in Denmark.

- It is no secret that we are a significant part of what is going to happen, says Claus A. Nielsen, business development manager at DIN Forsyning, which is headquartered in Esbjerg.

The future PtX facility is expected to be able to be put into operation as early as 2024.

- The facility will be located very close to our district heating network. There will be heat here to heat between 10,000-12,000 households. We are "energy's garbage men" - and that is one of our competitive advantages, says Claus A. Nielsen.

Claus A. Nielsen adds that the final agreement is not yet in place.

Danish District Heating: A strategy is missing

However, the plan for utilization of residual heat from PtX in Esbjerg is not an expression of an authority requirement or a clear strategy.

- Esbjerg is a pioneer in how it should be done. Power-to-X will be placed close to the district heating network, so that the residual heat can be used, says Maria Dahl Hedegaard, specialist consultant at Dansk Fjernvarme.

It is more of an expression that there is foresight in Esbjerg, which is not there on a national Danish level. The rest of the energy industry is waiting for a well-thought-out PtX strategy from the government.

- There is a lack of a clear nationwide strategy so that district heating is taken into account when Power-to-X systems are planned. We lack that now, says Maria Dahl Hedegaard, who is also thinking about the future energy islands and a possible location of PtX offshore on the energy islands.

- If the PtX plants are to be located by the energy islands, the residual heat will not be able to be brought ashore. The heat loss would be too great, says Maria Dahl Hedegaard about the possible laying of heating pipes from the energy islands at sea to the district heating network on land.

The wind turbine power can only be used for PtX without the so-called electricity tariffs if the turbines and PtX are located directly together. This is also the case on land. The electricity tariff is now such that if the power from the energy islands is first led ashore via cables, then the electricity tariff must be paid. That would make PtX unprofitable.

- It is urgent to come up with a strategy so that PtX can contribute to the 2030 climate goals. Here it is also about the potential being exploited, so that Denmark can be a leading country in the green transition, says Maria Dahl Hedegaard, who is also thinking about the opportunity for Danish companies to take part in the development.