# Power-to-X

Using clean electricity to make hydrogen, then fuels and chemicals.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_to_x/

Conversion and use · Fuel processing · No. 110

- Conversion and use
 Conversion and use · Fuel processing · Foundation · Energy

Making one tonne of synthetic jet fuel crude takes about 36 MWh of electricity, and only half survives into the tank.

Chart: Illustration: Power-to-X

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Power-to-X starts with electrolysers splitting water into hydrogen, then joins it to nitrogen or captured CO2 over catalysts. Large commercial electrolysers manage 65-70% efficiency.

##### Three things to know

1. Ammonia is the cheapest e-fuel because it needs no carbon: about 88% of the hydrogen's energy is kept in the product.
2. If the grid emits more than about 95-140 g CO2 per kWh, e-kerosene does more climate harm over its life than fossil jet fuel.
3. CO2 from fermentation costs USD 20-30 a tonne, while CO2 pulled from the air can cost many times more.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Clean power**Solar, wind or nuclear electricity
2. 2 **Electrolysis**Splits water into hydrogen at 65-70%
3. 3 **CO2 or N2**Captured carbon, or nitrogen from air
4. 4 **Synthesis**Catalysts build ammonia, methanol or hydrocarbons
5. 5 **Fuel use**Ships, aircraft, fertiliser and chemicals

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_to_x/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_to_x/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_to_x/science/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_to_x/valuechain/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_to_x/economics/index.md)
- [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_to_x/methods/index.md)
- [Equipment and suppliers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_to_x/equipment/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_to_x/links/index.md)