Elektrolysis vs. RK-X
During electrolysis, water is broken down into its components, hydrogen and oxygen, using electricity. The essence of electrolysis is that two bonds of water molecules must be broken to release hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Although this technology has been known and used for a long time, handling, storing and transporting the generated hydrogen gas raises many difficulties. Hydrogen is a low molecular weight gas that is very volatile and can leak (sublimate) easily, so storing hydrogen requires high-pressure tanks, special materials, and cooling processes, all of which increase costs. In addition, the transportation of hydrogen is also complicated, since it cannot be transported in the same way as conventional liquid fuels, and requires a special tank truck. Also, last but not least, hydrogen gas is highly explosive, which further complicates its handling and increases costs
“In contrast, formic acid is a liquid, easier to handle and transport. “
Formic acid is easier to transport and store because it does not require high-pressure tanks or special storage like hydrogen. Formic acid is much safer to handle and can be transported easily through existing infrastructure, which is a significant advantage over hydrogen.
During electrolysis, two strong covalent bonds in the water molecule must be broken to produce hydrogen and oxygen. This process requires a significant amount of energy. In general, the production of 1 ton of hydrogen requires 51.5 MWh of energy, while the production of 1 kg of hydrogen requires 51.5 kWh of energy. This high energy demand limits the economics of electrolysis technology, especially when renewable energy sources are not yet widespread.
Producing formic acid using the RK-X process seems to be a much more economical solution. During the process, only one covalent bond needs to be broken, which requires significantly less energy than electrolysis. Only 33 MWh of energy is needed to produce 1 ton of hydrogen-equivalent formic acid, which means an energy saving of about 40% compared to electrolysis. The same savings apply in the case of 1 kg of hydrogen, where only 33 kWh of energy is required to produce formic acid, while this value is 51.5 kWh in the case of hydrolysis.
“To produce 1 kg of hydrogen, 33 kWh of energy is required with RK-X technology, in case of hydrolysis this value is 51.5 kWh, the saving is 40%!”
This difference in energy efficiency is a significant advantage for formic acid technology, especially in efforts to reduce global carbon emissions. During the RK-X process, carbon dioxide is converted into formic acid, which not only reduces the amount of greenhouse gases, but also recycles it in the form of an environmentally friendly fuel. In terms of market progression, the goal in the first phase is to convert about 1 million tons of carbon dioxide, from which the same number of tons of formic acid can be produced. This could be a huge step forward in the market for sustainable fuels.
Overall, formic acid technology offers a more economical and energy-efficient alternative to electrolysis. The high energy requirements of electrolysis, as well as the problems associated with storing and transporting hydrogen, all contribute to the fact that the shift to formic acid provides a more cost-effective and sustainable solution in the long term. The simple storability, transportability and production process of formic acid, which requires less energy, provide a significant advantage in the fuel market of the future. The market introduction of the technology can be beneficial not only from an economic point of view, but also from an environmental point of view, as it can contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and the replacement of fossil energy carriers.
