Electrons to Molecules: The unexpected link for Energy Transition
Between 2014 and 2024, the global energy consumption has increased by 15% to 20%, mainly driven by economic expansion, population growth and increased electrification.
Our energy consumption still reflects a heavy reliance on fossil fuels (80% derives from “molecules” in the form of gas, coal, mineral oil or biomass) whilst only 20% is the share of electricity, which underscore the urgency of transitioning to cleaner, sustainable energy solutions.

Converting Renewable Electricity into Green Molecules
While pure electrification is effective for many applications, certain industries—like aviation, shipping, steel production, and chemical manufacturing—are challenging to electrify directly. In these sectors, converting renewable electricity into energy-dense green molecules offers a viable solution.
Green hydrogen, produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable electricity, serves as a foundational molecule. It can be utilized directly or further synthesized into other green molecules:

Ammonia (NH₃)
Combining green hydrogen with nitrogen produces ammonia, which can be used as a carbon-free fuel or as a fertilizer in agriculture.

Methanol (CH₃OH)
Synthesized from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide, methanol serves as a versatile fuel and chemical feedstock.

Methane (CH₄)
Also known as synthetic natural gas, methane can be produced by combining green hydrogen with carbon dioxide through the Sabatier reaction

eSAF
Synthetic sustainable aviation fuel, which can be produced through the combination of hydrogen and carbon dioxide (biogenic or captured)

Other Contributions to Energy Sustainability
Integrating green molecules into the energy system offers several benefits:

Hard to Electrify
Ceramics, cement, glass and road freight transport, are all industries that require high energy densities or specific chemical properties which can utilize green molecules to reduce their carbon footprint. However, their pace on the energy transition is much slower due to their physical, technological or market particularities: these sectors account for roughly a quarter of the world’s energy consumption and are responsible for around a fifth of total CO2 emissions.
Energy Storage and Transport
Green molecules can store energy over long periods and can be transported using existing infrastructure, addressing the intermittency of renewable energy sources. Once converted, chemical storage systems can supply power to the grid or reserve surplus energy for future use. Additionally, many energy storage chemicals, such as hydrogen and methanol, contribute to the decarbonization of industries and transportation. The dual capability to return stored energy to the grid or market the produced chemical for industrial and transportation applications creates unique opportunities for both revenue generation and decarbonization, complementing the capabilities of other storage technologies like batteries.


Grid Stability
Green molecules can be converted back into electricity during peak demand periods, enhancing grid reliability. As the world transitions away from fossil fuels, these stabilization services must ideally be carbon neutral (or negative). Hydrogen and other molecules, can acts as a flexible energy carrier, storing surplus renewable electricity and delivering it when demand peaks. To meet modern grid demands, such solutions must mimic baseload power by being controllable, reliable, and quickly dispatchable. Fuel cells and batteries can work side by side, to provide an alternative to current solutions as gas turbines operated with fossil natural gas.
Empowering a Sustainable Future
By harnessing both electrons from renewable electricity and green molecules derived from that electricity, we can create a resilient and sustainable energy system capable of meeting the growth demand of our industry and society, while minimizing environmental impact.
Batteries

Fuel Cells

Electrolyzers

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