
Power to Gas
New market potential for PtG plants
Power to Gas (PtG) is a key technology in the sector coupling and realizes several goals of the energy transition: Thanks to their flexibility, PtG systems can react to price fluctuations on the stock exchange and thus contribute to grid stability. In addition, the technology enables the conversion of excess electricity into storable gas or methane, which is then available for various applications.
Electricity supply
Inexpensive electricity for your electrolyser
To operate your electrolyser, you need an electricity supply contract. Our experienced trading department enables us to supply you with electricity at favourable conditions. In addition, we offer you the opportunity to profit from price fluctuations on the electricity exchange. This is because the variable feed-in of the renewable energy sources wind and sun causes fluctuations in the intraday market in the double-digit euro range. You can use these price differences for your power-to-gas plant via our virtual power plant. If you are interested in this flexible form of electricity supply, you have two options.
Automated control via the Next Box: With automatic control, the PtG system is networked with our Virtual Power Plant via the Next Box and controlled fully automatically via our control system. The control system combines information from the electricity markets, weather forecasts and live data from all networked plants. The flow rate of the local natural gas network can also be taken into account in resource planning. The control system uses this data to calculate the time at which the electrolyser is used and then switches it fully automatically via the Next Box. In simple terms, if electricity prices are particularly low, the electrolyser is started via the control system. If prices rise again, electrolysis is stopped automatically. In this way, you get the most out of the price differences on the stock exchange. Of course, you can also intervene in the system control at any time during fully automatic operation.
Manual control on the basis of timetables: As an alternative to fully automatic control, you can also optimize the electrolyser's operation manually. For this purpose, we provide you with timetables that show you when the stock exchange prices are favourable and gas production is worthwhile for you. On this basis you switch your power-to-gas plant and shift your production into the advantageous time windows with low prices. By the way: You do not need any additional infrastructure for this form of electricity supply - you just need to adjust your operating mode.

Reserve power
Using excess electricity and stabilising the grid
The fluctuating feed-in of renewable energies not only creates situations in which there is too little electricity in the grid. If the sun and wind supply more than expected, there may also be an excess of electricity in the grid. In this case, negative control energy needs to be activated: The transmission system operators reduce the feed-in or increase the demand and thus ensure that the grid frequency drops back to the required 50 Hertz. Thanks to the enormous reaction speed of the power-to-gas technology, the electrolyser is ideally suited for providing control energy. The advantage: Instead of shutting down systems, the excess electricity is used and converted into storable gas. If necessary, this can be converted back into electricity.
Attractive revenues: For the provision of your PtG system alone, you receive a standby remuneration, the so-called demand price. In the event of a call-off, you will also receive the energy price.
No financial risks: We do not charge any fees for our marketing services, but only receive a share of your revenues (profit sharing). So there is no financial risk, you can only win.
Full service: Via the Next Box we connect your PtG plant to our virtual power plant and e carry out the necessary test procedure, the prequalification.
Resource-saving: Instead of turning down plants, the surplus electricity is used and converted into storable gas. This can be converted back into electricity when needed.

By absorbing and converting excess electricity from the grid, P2G systems can provide negative control energy, i.e. reduce the amount of electricity in the grid. Depending on how quickly the control energy is supplied, a distinction is made between mFRR (R3), aFRR (R2) and FCR (R1). Many P2G systems are capable of absorbing considerable loads within a few seconds. Therefore, all control energy products can be realized with power to gas. We advise you individually which product best suits your application scenario.
A practical experience
Networking of the power-to-gas plant of Windgas Haßfurt (Germany)
Since 2016, the P2G plant of the city of Haßfurt, which is operated jointly with the Hamburg-based green energy provider Greenpeace Energy, has been networked in our virtual power plant. In the event of high wind volumes, which cannot be fully utilised on site in the Haßfurt distribution network, the system starts up and stores excess energy as wind gas in the form of hydrogen within seconds. The operation of the system is optimized on the basis of various data sources: On the one hand, we forecast the feed-in of renewables and the total electricity consumption in the distribution grid. The flow rate of the local natural gas network, which absorbs the hydrogen produced in the electrolyser, is also taken into account.

My Power Plant
Always up to date via app and PC
In the customer portal, you can manage and control the status of your PtG plant, edit personal data, retrieve performance values and much more.
Notification function: You can also be notified about control energy calls.
Notice disruptions early: Via the customer portal, we can inform you directly in the event of disruptions. This enables you to react as quickly as possible.
Maintenance times: You can simply register maintenance and repair times for your PtG plant with us via the customer portal so that we take the downtimes into account in electricity trading.
Numbers & Facts
Aggregated Units
15 346
Q4/2022Networked Capacity
12 294
MW Q4 2022Volume of traded energy
15.1
TWh in 2019Employees
300
Locations
9
Foundation
2009
Next PoolOur Team
We implement your requirements
As one of Europe's largest Virtual Power Plants, we already connect more than 5000 decentralized power generators and consumers. This network enables us to benefit from market opportunities for decentralised units such as wind, solar and biogas plants as well as PtG systems. Our own trading floor enables us to react quickly to price fluctuations on the electricity markets and provide reserve capacities to stabilize the grid. In addition, we are involved in numerous research projects relating to the successful market integration of renewable energies.