How to simulate solar + wind green h₂ → co₂ methanation

A solar PV array and a wind turbine each compute their own electrical output from a cited irradiance/power-curve model — not typed-in numbers — and a calculator block sums the two and writes it into a PEM electrolyzer's power draw, re-converging until the electrolyzer's hydrogen output is self-consistent with the array's own physics. That green H₂ is mixed with a CO₂-rich feed (representing the rich overhead of an amine-capture loop, e.g. basf-amdea-closed-solvent-loop or mixed-amine-acid-gas-treating — captured CO₂ standing in as a feed rather than re-solving the whole capture train here) and reacted to synthetic natural gas by the Sabatier reaction, same as co2-methanation. This is the full post-combustion-capture-plus-renewable-hydrogen loop: capture the carbon, split water with sun and wind, recombine them into pipeline-ready gas. CO₂ is deliberately fed in stoichiometric deficit so the electrolyzer's own H₂ output — not an assumed ratio — sets how much gas is made; the solar/wind design point (750 W/m² POA irradiance at 45°C cell temperature; a 9 m/s wind on a 100 m rotor) is a representative midday operating point, not a time series — this is a design-point simulation, not an 8760-hour production model.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Solar + wind green H₂ → CO₂ methanation model simulate?

A solar PV array and a wind turbine each compute their own electrical output from a cited irradiance/power-curve model — not typed-in numbers — and a calculator block sums the two and writes it into a PEM electrolyzer's power draw, re-converging until the electrolyzer's hydrogen output is self-consistent with the array's own physics. That green H₂ is mixed with a CO₂-rich feed (representing the rich overhead of an amine-capture loop, e.g. basf-amdea-closed-solvent-loop or mixed-amine-acid-gas-treating — captured CO₂ standing in as a feed rather than re-solving the whole capture train here) and reacted to synthetic natural gas by the Sabatier reaction, same as co2-methanation. This is the full post-combustion-capture-plus-renewable-hydrogen loop: capture the carbon, split water with sun and wind, recombine them into pipeline-ready gas. CO₂ is deliberately fed in stoichiometric deficit so the electrolyzer's own H₂ output — not an assumed ratio — sets how much gas is made; the solar/wind design point (750 W/m² POA irradiance at 45°C cell temperature; a 9 m/s wind on a 100 m rotor) is a representative midday operating point, not a time series — this is a design-point simulation, not an 8760-hour production model.

Which thermodynamic method does it use?

The PENG-ROBINSON property package, over water, h2, co2, methane — already selected. You can switch the method on the canvas before running.

Which unit operations are in the flowsheet?

It chains Solar, WIND, CALC Power, Electrolyzer, MIX, 2× COOL, RX, SEP. Every block is a real, solvable unit operation you can reconfigure, add to, or remove.

Do I need to install software or buy a license?

No. Solar + wind green H₂ → CO₂ methanation runs entirely in your browser on MaximaLabs — free, no install, no license. Open the model to load it live and run the deterministic solver.