Abstract:
A system and method for load balancing of intermittent renewable energy for an electricity grid includes a production unit for producing Hydrogen and Nitrogen, a mixing unit to receive and mix the Hydrogen and the Nitrogen, an Ammonia source for receiving and processing the Hydrogen-Nitrogen mixture, an Ammonia power generator for generating energy for the energy grid, a Hydrogen injection system for extracting a Hydrogen portion from a stage of the system and for adding extracted Hydrogen to the gas stream to be provided to the Ammonia power generator, and a Hydrogen control system for controlling a flow rate of Hydrogen from the Hydrogen injection system to the gas stream to be provided to the Ammonia power generator, the flow rate determined in accordance with a data set which contains information about actual working conditions of the Ammonia power generator and which is received by the Hydrogen control system.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is the US National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/062584 filed Jun. 16, 2014, and claims the benefit thereof, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a system and method for load balancing of intermittent renewable energy for an electricity grid. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    The uptake of renewable natural resources (renewables) for energy generation in the last years has been impressive, but there is still the unsolved problem of dealing with the transient nature of the renewables. Both solar and wind power are intermittent by their nature and, therefore, it is not possible to provide a dependable baseload to the energy networks. Since the demand of energy consumers can be irregular, a power supply based on renewables does not match the demand of the consumers. Also, the excess energy, i.e. the amount of energy which would be momentarily available from renewables but which is not demanded by the consumers at that time, strains the energy networks and would get lost in case it is not consumed. 
         [0004]    Thus, conditions exist in which the energy momentarily provided by renewables is not sufficient to cover the demand. However, there would also be conditions in which the energy momentarily provided by renewables is exceeding the current demand. As the proportion of energy from renewable sources increases, the situation will become unsustainable. 
         [0005]    A promising approach for solving these drawbacks would be the use of long term energy buffers or storages which are suitable to store the energy. Such a solution would allow to handle situations in which the demand exceeds the available energy as well as situations in which excess energy is available. 
         [0006]    A variety of buffering solutions for storing electrical energy are known, e.g. Lithium batteries and Vanadium based Redox batteries, but these solutions cannot provide the necessary scale of energy storage. Hydrogen offers another carbon free route for storing energy, but it is difficult and risky to utilize. In gaseous form it has to be compressed to 500 bars in order to achieve a suitable energy density. Liquid Hydrogen requires cryogenic temperatures and the associated complicated infrastructure. Moreover, the use of Hydrogen in either form requires safeguards due to the risk of explosion. For these reasons, Hydrogen is not considered to be a qualified candidate for energy storage. 
         [0007]    Thus, there are currently no reliable and appropriate means for decoupling energy supply and demands for renewable energies on a local or national scale. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the invention to provide a solution for supplying an energy grid with energy from an intermittent renewable energy source. 
         [0009]    The object is solved by a system and a method according to the independent claims. 
         [0010]    The invention is based on the approach of storing at least parts of the energy generated using renewable. This is achieved by using that energy to produce Hydrogen and Nitrogen. Hydrogen and Nitrogen are subsequently converted into Ammonia (NH3) which is a carbon-free fuel and which can be stored at ambient temperatures. Also, NH3 can be transported effectively and safely using pipelines, railroads, shipping and trucks. Moreover, NH3 offers the advantages that it can be synthesized in a carbon free process and it can be burned without generating green house gases. 
         [0011]    The invention achieves a decoupling of the supply and demand of electricity from fluctuating renewable energy sources by using the renewable energy for the generation of Ammonia which can be stored subsequently. The stored Ammonia can then be used in a NH3 power generator to generate electricity which is fed into the electricity grid. This integrated solution proposed by the invention allows to translate intermittent electricity into a baseload provided by the renewable energy source to the local or national energy grid. 
         [0012]    Further improvement is achieved by making use of the Hydrogen produced in the system, for example in the Hydrogen electrolyzer, at the temporary storage unit and/or at other suitable stages of the system, by mixing a portion of the produced Hydrogen with the NH3 which is conducted from the NH3 storage vessel to the NH3 power generator before the combustion. This results in better combustion properties such as a more efficient and cleaner burning process and reduced NOX exhaust. For this, the system comprises a Hydrogen injection system. The Hydrogen injection system extracts a Hydrogen portion from a suitable stage of the system and provides extracted Hydrogen to a mixer which is fluidly connected with the NH3 storage vessel and with the NH3 power generator. The mixer mixes the Hydrogen with NH3 from the storage vessel and provides an NH3-Hydrogen-mixture to the NH3 power generator. 
         [0013]    Thus, the presence of the NH3 storage vessel as a buffer allows a better flexibility of providing energy to the energy grid and, therefore, an improved load balancing. Moreover, the efficiency of the system and method is improved by the Hydrogen injection system. 
         [0014]    The invention can be applied for operating the energy network based on renewable energies as well as in the local energy supply for heavy industry and rural areas, grid stabilization. 
         [0015]    In more detail, the system for providing energy for an energy grid and for load balancing of an energy input for the energy grid based on intermittent renewable energy provided by a renewable energy source, comprises—an H2-N2-production unit for producing Hydrogen and Nitrogen, wherein the H2-N2-production unit is operated by using energy provided by the renewable energy source,—a mixing unit configured to receive and mix the Hydrogen and the Nitrogen produced by the H2-N2-production unit to form a Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture,—an NH3 source for receiving and processing the Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture for generating a gas mixture containing NH3, wherein the NH3 source is fluidly connected to the mixing unit to receive the Hydrogen-Nitrogen mixture from the mixing unit and wherein the NH3 source is configured to generate the gas mixture containing NH3 from the Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture, wherein the NH3 source comprises an NH3 storage vessel for storing at least a part of the NH3 of the gas mixture containing NH3,—an NH3 power generator for generating energy for the energy grid, wherein the NH3 power generator is fluidly connected to the NH3 storage vessel to receive a gas stream containing NH3 from the NH3 storage vessel and wherein the NH3 power generator comprises a combustion chamber to combust the received NH3 of the gas stream to generate the energy for the energy grid, wherein the system further comprises—a Hydrogen injection system for extracting a Hydrogen portion from a stage of the system into the Hydrogen injection system and for adding extracted Hydrogen from the Hydrogen injection system to the gas stream to be provided to the NH3 power generator. to generate an NH3-Hydrogen-mixture prior to the NH3 stream reaching the NH3 power generator. 
         [0016]    The system might comprise an NH3-Hydrogen-mixer, which is fluidly connected to the NH3 storage vessel, to the NH3 power generator, and to the Hydrogen injection system and which is configured and arranged to receive and mix NH3 from the NH3 storage vessel and Hydrogen from the Hydrogen injection system to form a NH3-Hydrogen-mixture to be provided to the NH3 power generator. The mixer allows to form a gas mixture prior to the combustion. 
         [0017]    The Hydrogen injection system might comprise a Hydrogen extraction unit assigned to the stage of the system from which the Hydrogen portion is extracted, wherein the Hydrogen extraction unit enables a regulation of the portion of Hydrogen to be extracted at the stage to establish a particular flow of Hydrogen from the stage into the Hydrogen injection system, i.e. a regulation of the amount of Hydrogen to be extracted, i.e. a H2 flow rate regulation. With this setup, it becomes possible to extract particular amounts of Hydrogen from the selected stages by controlling the Hydrogen extraction units. 
         [0018]    The Hydrogen injection system might comprise a plurality of devices for regulating a flow of Hydrogen in the Hydrogen injection system and to the gas stream to be provided to the NH3 power generator. Thus, a particular H2 flow rate into the mixer can be established by controlling one or more of the plurality of devices. The plurality of devices might comprise devices like pumps, valves etc. which allow a flow rate regulation. 
         [0019]    The Hydrogen injection system might comprise a Hydrogen control system for controlling—a flow rate of Hydrogen from the stage at which the H2 portion is extracted into the Hydrogen injection system and/or—a flow rate of Hydrogen from the Hydrogen injection system to the gas stream to be provided to the NH3 power generator, i.e. to the NH3-H3-mixer. This is achieved by controlling the Hydrogen extraction units and/or the plurality of devices for regulating a flow of Hydrogen in the Hydrogen injection system. With this, optimal operation parameters can be established. 
         [0020]    Therein, the controlling by the Hydrogen control system might be based on an input data set which contains information about actual working conditions in the NH3 power generator and wherein the working conditions include at least one of—a status of combustion in the combustion chamber,—a flow rate of NH3 from the NH3 storage vessel,—a temperature in the combustion chamber,—an actual chemical composition of a gas mixture in the combustion chamber, and/or—an actual chemical composition of combustion exhaust gases of the NH3 power generator. Thus, the H2 control system can establish optimum working conditions by considering a variety of parameters. 
         [0021]    The H2-N2-production unit might comprise—a Hydrogen electrolyzer for producing the Hydrogen, wherein the Hydrogen electrolyzer is configured to receive water and energy produced by the renewable energy source and to produce the Hydrogen by electrolysis, and—an air separation unit for producing the Nitrogen, wherein the air separation unit is configured to receive air and energy produced by the renewable energy source and to produce the Nitrogen by separating the received air. This allows to produce Hydrogen H2 and Nitrogen N2 by utilizing energy from the renewable energy source, finally resulting in the ability to store that energy in form of NH3. 
         [0022]    The stage at which the Hydrogen portion is extracted might be the Hydrogen electrolyzer. 
         [0023]    The mixing unit might be fluidly connected to the H2-N2-production unit to receive the Hydrogen and Nitrogen produced therein, wherein the mixing unit might comprise a temporary storage system for receiving and buffering the Hydrogen and the Nitrogen from the H2-N2-production unit. The temporary storage system might be configured to receive the Hydrogen and the Nitrogen from the H2-N2-production unit, to temporary store the Hydrogen and the Nitrogen for buffering and to subsequently process the buffered Hydrogen and Nitrogen to the mixer. This allows a more efficient mixing process. 
         [0024]    The stage at which the Hydrogen portion is extracted might be the temporary storage system. 
         [0025]    The mixing unit might comprise—a mixer fluidly connected to the H2-N2-production unit for receiving the Hydrogen and the Nitrogen, i.e. mixer is fluidly connected to temporary storage system, and for mixing the received Hydrogen and Nitrogen to form a Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture and—a compressor for compressing the Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture from the mixer to form a compressed Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture to be directed to the NH3 source. Thus, the mixing unit provides a compressed H2-N2-mixture. 
         [0026]    The NH3 source might comprise—an NH3 reaction chamber configured to receive the Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture from the mixing unit and to process the received Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture to form the gas mixture containing NH3 and—a separator for receiving the gas mixture containing NH3 from the NH3 reaction chamber, wherein—the separator is configured to separate NH3 from the gas mixture containing NH3 such that NH3 and a remaining Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture are produced and—the separator is fluidly connected to the NH3 storage vessel to direct the produced NH3 to the NH3 storage vessel. 
         [0027]    The usage of the separator allows an efficient production of NH3. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, an additional a re-processing unit for re-processing the remaining Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture with a re-compressor and a second mixer is available, wherein—the re-compressor is fluidly connected to the separator to receive and compress the remaining 
         [0029]    Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture from the separator,—the second mixer is fluidly connected to the re-compressor to receive the compressed remaining Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture from the re-compressor,—the second mixer is fluidly connected to the mixing unit to receive the Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture from the mixing unit, and wherein—the second mixer is configured to mix the Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture from the mixing unit and the compressed remaining Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture from the re-compressor to form the Hydrogen-Nitrogen mixture to be provided to the NH3 source. The use of the re-processing unit allows to re-cycle remaining H2 and N2 to form further NH3. 
         [0030]    In an alternative embodiment, the separator might be fluidly connected to the mixing unit to direct the remaining Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture from the separator to the mixing unit, such that the remaining Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture is mixed in the mixing unit with the Hydrogen and the Nitrogen from the H2-N2-production unit to form the Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture to be received by the NH3 source. This also allows to re-cycle remaining H2 and N2 to form further NH3. 
         [0031]    The system might comprise further a main control unit for controlling the generation of the NH3 to be stored in the NH3 storage vessel and/or the generation of energy with the NH3 power generator. 
         [0032]    For example, the controlling can be achieved by regulating the energy flow provided to the H2-N2-production unit and, therewith, the production of H2 and N2 or by regulating the mass flow in the system via influencing mixers, compressors or other components and/or by regulating the temperature in NH3 reaction chamber. 
         [0033]    The main control unit might be configured and arranged, i.e. connected to corresponding components, such that the controlling of the generation of the NH3 to be stored in the NH3 storage vessel and/or the controlling of the generation of energy with the NH3 power generator at least depends on an actual power demand in the energy grid and/or on an amount of energy currently generated by the renewable energy source. This allows a flexible energy supply which reacts to actual demands in the energy grid and which on the other hand allows to store energy form the renewable energy source in case of low demands. 
         [0034]    The main control unit might be configured—to preferably simultaneously reduce the generation of the NH3 to be stored in the NH3 storage vessel, which can be achieved by controlling the generation of the gas mixture containing NH3, and/or increase the generation of energy during periods of low renewable energy input from the renewable energy source,—to preferably simultaneously increase the generation of the NH3 to be stored in the NH3 storage vessel and/or reduce the generation of energy during periods of high renewable energy input from the renewable energy source. 
         [0035]    This also allows effective load balancing of an energy input for the energy grid and a flexible energy supply which reacts to actual demands in the energy grid and which on the other hand allows to store energy form the renewable energy source in case of low demands. 
         [0036]    Therein, the terms “low” and “high” can be referenced to certain given threshold values. I.e. a low renewable energy input means that the actual renewable energy input is less than a first threshold and a high renewable energy input means that the actual renewable energy input is more than a second threshold. First and second threshold can be identical or different from each other. 
         [0037]    The system might further comprise an energy distribution unit which is configured to receive the energy provided by the renewable energy source and to distribute the energy to the energy grid and/or to the H2-N2-production unit, wherein the distribution depends on an energy demand situation in the energy grid. For example, in case of a higher energy demand from the energy grid, the fraction of energy provided by the renewable energy source to the energy grid is higher and the remaining fraction which is provided to the system is lower. In case of a lower energy demand from the energy grid, the fraction of energy provided by the renewable energy source to the energy grid is lower and the remaining fraction which is provided to the system is higher. This allows an effective operation of the system and, in the consequence, load balancing of an energy input for the energy grid. 
         [0038]    In a corresponding method for providing energy for an energy grid and for load balancing of an energy input for the energy grid based on intermittent renewable energy provided by a renewable energy source,—at least a part of the energy from the renewable energy source is used to produce Hydrogen and Nitrogen a H2-N2-production unit,—the produced Hydrogen and Nitrogen are mixed in a mixing unit to form a Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture,—the Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture is processed in an NH3 source to generate a gas mixture containing NH3 and NH3 of the gas mixture containing NH3 is stored in a NH3 storage vessel,—a Hydrogen portion is extracted from a stage of the system into a Hydrogen injection system,—NH3 is provided from the NH3 storage vessel and mixed with Hydrogen from the Hydrogen injection system to form a NH3-Hydrogen-mixture,—the NH3-Hydrogen-mixture is provided to a combustion chamber of an NH3 power generator and the provided NH3-Hydrogen-mixture is combusted in the combustion chamber for generating the energy for the energy grid. 
         [0039]    The Hydrogen control system might control—a flow rate of Hydrogen from the stage at which the H2 portion is extracted into the Hydrogen injection system by regulating a Hydrogen extraction unit assigned to the stage and/or—a flow rate of Hydrogen from the Hydrogen injection system to be mixed with the NH3 provided from the NH3 storage vessel by regulating a plurality of devices for regulating a flow of Hydrogen in the Hydrogen injection system and to the gas stream to be provided to the NH3 power generator. This is achieved by controlling the Hydrogen extraction units and/or the plurality of devices for regulating a flow of Hydrogen in the Hydrogen injection system. 
         [0040]    The controlling by the Hydrogen control system might be based on an input data set which contains information about actual working conditions in the NH3 power generator and wherein the working conditions include at least one of—a status of combustion in the combustion chamber,—a flow rate of NH3 from the NH3 storage vessel,—a temperature in the combustion chamber,—an actual chemical composition of a gas mixture in the combustion chamber, and/or—an actual chemical composition of combustion exhaust gases of the NH3 power generator. 
         [0041]    The gas mixture containing NH3 might be directed to a separator which separates NH3 from the gas mixture containing NH3 such that the NH3 to be stored in the NH3 storage vessel and a remaining Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture are produced. 
         [0042]    The remaining Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture might be re-compressed and the re-compressed remaining Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture is mixed with the Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture mixture from the mixing unit to form the Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture to be received by the NH3 source. 
         [0043]    The remaining Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture might be mixed in the mixing unit with the Hydrogen and the Nitrogen from the H2-N2-production unit to form the Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixture to be received by the NH3 source. 
         [0044]    A main control unit of the system might control the generation of the NH3 to be stored in the NH3 storage vessel and/or the generation of energy with the NH3 power generator. 
         [0045]    The main control unit might control the generation of the NH3 to be stored in the NH3 storage vessel and/or the generation of energy with the NH3 power generator at least depending on an actual power demand in the energy grid and/or on an amount of energy currently generated by the renewable energy source. 
         [0046]    The main control unit—preferably simultaneously reduces the generation of the NH3 to be stored in the NH3 storage vessel and/or increases the generation of energy during periods of low renewable energy input from the renewable energy source,—preferably simultaneously increases the generation of the NH3 to be stored in the NH3 storage vessel and/or reduces the generation of energy during periods of high renewable energy input from the renewable energy source. 
         [0047]    A main control unit controls the generation of NH3 and the generation of energy. For example, during periods in which the renewable energy source generates less energy, for example and in the case of a windmill during phases of low wind, the main control unit would power up the NH3 power generator to supply more energy into the energy grid because the supply by the renewable energy source might not be sufficient. During periods of in which the renewable energy source generates a high amount of energy, for example during phases with strong wind, the main control unit would power down the NH3 power generator because the renewable energy source provides sufficient energy to the grid. However, the main control unit would increase the production and storage of NH3. 
         [0048]    A device being “fluidly connected” to a further device means that a fluid can be transferred via a connection between the devices, e.g. a tube, from the device to the further device. Therein, a fluid can be gaseous as well as liquid. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0049]    In the following, the invention is explained in detail on the basis of  FIG. 1 . Like reference numerals in different figures refer to the same components. 
           [0050]      FIG. 1  shows a system for load balancing of an intermittent renewable energy source, 
           [0051]      FIG. 2  shows a further embodiment of the system with a re-cycling of a remaining H2-N2-gas mixture, 
           [0052]      FIG. 3  shows a variation of the further embodiment of the system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0053]    The system  100  shown in  FIG. 1  comprises a renewable energy source  10 , for example a windmill or a windfarm with a plurality of individual windmills. Alternatively, the renewable energy source  10  can also be a solar power plant or any other power plant which is suitable for generating energy out of a renewable feedstock like water, wind, or solar energy. In the following, the system  100  is explained under the assumption that the renewable energy source  10  is a windmill. However, this should not have any limiting effect on the invention. 
         [0054]    The windmill  10  is connected to an energy grid  300  to supply energy generated by the windmill  10  to the grid  300 . Therein, an energy amount  1 ″ which is at least a fraction of the energy  1  generated by the windmill  10  is provided to the energy grid  300  to meet the energy demands of the consumers in the energy grid  300 . It might be mentioned that the energy grid  300  would normally also have access to other energy sources. 
         [0055]    However, a remaining energy amount  1 ′ of the generated energy  1  can be used in the system  100  to operate an Hydrogen-Nitrogen-production unit  20  (H2-N2-production unit) of the system  100 . 
         [0056]    Especially when excess energy is available, i.e. when the energy  1  generated by the renewable energy source  10  is exceeding the energy demand of the energy grid  300  to the renewable energy source  10 , this excess energy can be directed to the H2-N2-production unit  20  to operate the unit  20 . The amount of energy  1 ′ which is fed to the H2-N2-production unit  20  depends on the energy demands of consumers to be supplied by the energy grid  300 . I.e. in case of high demands, e.g. during peak times, it might be necessary that 100% of the energy  1  generated by the windmill  10  has to be fed into the electricity grid  300  to cover the demand. In contrast, in case of very low demands, e.g. during night times, 100% of the electricity  1  generated by the windmill  10  might be available for use in the system  100  and can be directed to the H2-N2-production unit  20 . 
         [0057]    Such managing and distribution of energy  1  from the windmill  10  is achieved by an energy distribution unit  11 . The energy distribution unit  11  receives the energy  1  from the windmill  10 . As indicated above, certain ratios of the energy  1  are directed to the energy grid  300  and/or to the system  100  and the H2-N2-production unit  20 , respectively, depending on the energy demand situation in the energy grid  300 . Thus, the energy distribution unit  11  is configured to receive the energy  1  provided by the renewable energy source  10  and to distribute the energy  1  to the energy grid  300  and/or to the H2-N2-production unit  20 , wherein the distribution depends on an energy demand situation in the energy grid  300 . 
         [0058]    For example, in case a high amount of energy is demanded in the grid  300 , most or all of the energy  1  would be directed to the grid  300  and only less energy  1 ′ would be provided to the H2-N2-production unit  20 . In case the demand situation is such that only less energy is demanded in the grid  300 , most or all of the energy  1  provided by the renewable energy source  10  can be used for generation of NH3. Thus, a high amount of energy  1 ′ would be provided to the H2-N2-production unit  20 . 
         [0059]    As mentioned above, the amount  1 ′ of the energy  1  generated by the renewable energy source  10  is supplied to the system  100  and to the H2-N2-production unit  20  to achieve the production of NH3. The H2-N2-production unit  20  comprises a Hydrogen electrolyzer  21  and an air separation unit  22 . 
         [0060]    The Hydrogen electrolyzer  21  of the H2-N2-production unit  20  is used to generate Hydrogen  4  and Oxygen  6  through the electrolysis of water  2 . The Hydrogen electrolyzer  21  is supplied with water  2  from an arbitrary source (not shown) and it is operated using energy  1 ′ from the windmill  10 . Oxygen  6  is a byproduct of the electrolyzer  21  and it can be vented and released into the ambient air. 
         [0061]    The air separation unit (ASU)  22  of the H2-N2-production unit  20  is used for the generation of Nitrogen  5 . Energy  1 ′ provided by the windmill  10  is used to operate the ASU  22  which utilizes conventional air separation techniques to separate Nitrogen  5  from air  3 . The remaining components of the air  3 , i.e. Oxygen and others, can be released into the ambient air. 
         [0062]    Thus, the windmill  10  is utilized to provide the energy  1 ′ for both the electrolysis of water  2  to form Hydrogen  4  with the Hydrogen electrolyzer  21  and for separating Nitrogen  5  from air  3  using the ASU  22 . 
         [0063]    Both Hydrogen  4  and Nitrogen  5  are then directed to a mixing unit  30  of the system  100 . The mixing unit  30  comprises a temporary storage unit  31 , a mixer  32  and a compressor  33 . First, Hydrogen  4  and Nitrogen  5  pass the temporary storage unit  31  before being mixed in the mixer  32 . The resulting Hydrogen-Nitrogen-gas mixture  8  (H2-N2-gas mixture) is subsequently compressed to fifty or more atmospheres in the compressor  33 . 
         [0064]    Ammonia NH3 can now be formed by processing the compressed H2-N2-gas mixture  8  in the presence of a catalyst at an elevated temperature. This is achieved in a NH3 reaction chamber  41  of an NH3 source  40  of the system  100 . The compressed H2-N2-gas mixture  8  from the mixing unit  30  and from the compressor  33 , respectively, is directed to the NH3 reaction chamber  41 . The reaction chamber  41  comprises one or more NH3 reaction beds  42  which are operated at an elevated temperature of, for example, 350-450° C. The NH3 reaction chamber  41  produces a mixture of NH3 and, additionally, Nitrogen N2 and Hydrogen H2 out of the H2-N2-gas mixture from the mixer  30 , i.e. the NH3 reaction chamber releases an NH3-H2-N2-gas mixture  9 . 
         [0065]    For example, a suitable catalyst can be based on iron promoted with K2O, CaO, SiO2, and Al2O3 or, rather than the iron based catalyst, ruthenium. 
         [0066]    The NH3-H2-N2-mixture  9  is directed to a separator  43  of the NH3 source  40 , for example a condenser, where NH3 is separated from the NH3-H2-N2-mixture  9 . Thus, the separator  43  produces NH3, which is sent to an NH3 storage vessel  44  of the NH3 source  40 , and a remaining H2-N2-gas mixture  8 ′. 
         [0067]    It can be assumed that an extensive knowledge base exists both on the storage and on the transportation of Ammonia. The same is applicable for the handling and transportation of Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Hydrogen-Nitrogen-mixtures. Therefore, the NH3 storage vessel  44  as well as the variety of ducts which connect all the components of the system  100  for directing NH3 and other gases or gas mixtures are not described in detail. 
         [0068]    As explained above, the separator  43  generates NH3 out of the NH3-H2-N2-mixture  9  provided by the NH3 reaction chamber  41  and a H2-N2-gas mixture  8 ′ remains. In one embodiment of the invention, for which two variations are shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , this remaining H2-N2-gas mixture  8 ′ is re-cycled to be utilized again for the generation of NH3 in the NH3 reaction chamber  41 . 
         [0069]    For this, the system  100  of this embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2  comprises an additional re-processing unit  50  with a re-compressor  51  and a mixer  52 . Moreover, this embodiment of the invention differs from the above described basic embodiment of the invention in that the compressed H2-N2-gas mixture  8  from the compressor  33  is not passed directly to the NH3 reaction chamber  41 , but it reaches the NH3 reaction chamber  41  only via the mixer  52  of the re-processing unit  50 . The remaining H2-N2-gas mixture  8 ′ of the separator  43  is passed to the re-compressor  51  of the re-processing unit  50  of the system  100 . Like the compressor  33 , the re-compressor  51  compresses the remaining H2-N2-gas mixture  8 ′ to fifty or more atmospheres to account for pressure losses during the processing in the NH3 reaction chamber  41  and in the separator  43 . The re-compressed remaining H2-N2-gas mixture  8 ′ is then passed to the mixer  52  where it is mixed with the fresh H2-N2-gas mixture  8  from the mixer  30  and the compressor  33 , respectively. The mixer  52  generates a mixture  8  of the H2-N2-gas mixtures  8 ,  8 ′ which is subsequently directed to the NH3 reaction chamber  41 . In the following, the gas mixture is processed as described above in the NH3 source  40  to produce NH3 and, again, a remaining H2-N2-gas mixture  8 ′. 
         [0070]      FIG. 3  shows a variation of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . The remaining H2-N2-gas mixture  8 ′ is directly fed into the mixer  32  of the mixing unit  30  to be mixed with the incoming Hydrogen and Nitrogen from the temporary storage unit  31 . A separate re-processing unit  50  is not used. 
         [0071]    In the following, reference is made again to  FIG. 1 . However, the details and features described below are also applicable for the embodiments and variations shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0072]    The NH3 storage vessel  44  is fluidly connected with an NH3 power generator  200  such that an NH3 gas stream can be established to transport NH3 from the storage vessel  44  to the NH3 power generator  200 . Ammonia can be used in a number of different combustion cycles, for example in the Brayton cycle or in the Diesel cycle. However, at a power level of a windmill or a windfarm, it would be appropriate to use a gas turbine for combustion of Ammonia for the generation of electrical energy, wherein the Brayton cycle would be applicable for a gas turbine solution. Thus, the NH3 power generator  200  can be a gas turbine which is configured for the combustion of Ammonia. It has been shown earlier that conventional gas turbines with only slight modifications of the burner would be suitable. 
         [0073]    The gas turbine  200  combusts the NH3 from the NH3 storage vessel  44  for the generation of energy  1 ′″ in a combustion chamber  201  of the NH3 power generator  200  and gas turbine, respectively. This energy  1 ′″ can then be fed into the energy grid  300 . 
         [0074]    However, the performance and efficiency of the NH3 power generator  200  and the gas turbine, respectively, can be optimized by introducing additional Hydrogen H2 into the NH3 gas stream from the NH3 storage vessel  44  prior to the combustion in the combustion chamber  201 . The presence of additional Hydrogen H2 in the resulting NH3-H2-gas mixture to be burned in the combustion chamber  201  results in improved combustion properties, for example in an increased efficiency and improved cleanliness of the burning process in the combustion chamber  201  as well as in an reduced NOX exhaust. 
         [0075]    Therefore, the system  100  comprises a Hydrogen injection system  80  for providing Hydrogen H2 to be added to the NH3 gas stream from the NH3 storage vessel  44 . The Hydrogen injection system  80  may receive Hydrogen H2 from a variety of stages of the system  100 . For example, the Hydrogen H2 to be injected into the NH3 stream might be a portion of the Hydrogen  4  produced in the Hydrogen electrolyzer  21  and/or it might be a portion of the Hydrogen available in the temporary storage unit  31  of the mixing unit  30 . Other suitable stages to provide Hydrogen H2 would be, for example, the mixer  32 , the compressor  33 , the NH3 reaction chamber  41 , and/or the separator  43 . However, the most suitable stages would be the Hydrogen electrolyzer  21  and the temporary storage unit  31  because at those stages the Hydrogen H2 would not have to be separated from another gas like Nitrogen N2, since at those stages Hydrogen is not a component of a gas mixture. In any case, only a portion &lt;&lt;100% of the total amount of Hydrogen at the respective stage would be available for the Hydrogen injection system  80 . For example, the portion might be 10% of the total amount of Hydrogen available at that stage. 
         [0076]    The Hydrogen injection system  80  comprises a mixer  84  which is arranged between the NH3 storage vessel  4  and the NH3 power generator  200  such that NH3 from the storage vessel  44  is first directed into the mixer  84  before reaching the NH3 power generator  200 . In the mixer  84 , the NH3 is mixed with the Hydrogen H2 coming from the Hydrogen injection system  80 . 
         [0077]    The Hydrogen injection system  80  moreover comprises at every stage  21 ,  31  a Hydrogen extraction unit  85 ,  86  which enables the regulation of the portion of Hydrogen to be extracted at that stage. The extraction units  85 ,  86  are controlled by a Hydrogen control system  82  and might comprise valves and/or pumps which are controlled to establish a particular flow of Hydrogen H2 into the Hydrogen injection system  80 . 
         [0078]    The extracted Hydrogen H2 is directed to and stored in a Hydrogen storage  81 . However, the storage  81  is optional and the extracted Hydrogen H2 might be directed to the mixer  84  without being stored in between. 
         [0079]    A flow rate of Hydrogen H2 from the stage  21 ,  31  at which the H2 portion is extracted is managed by the Hydrogen control system  82 . The Hydrogen control system  82  controls the Hydrogen extraction units  85 ,  86  and/or an additional plurality of devices  83  like pumps, valves and/or other devices suitable for controlling a flow rate in the Hydrogen injection system  80 . With this setup, it becomes possible to extract particular amounts of Hydrogen from the selected stages  21 ,  31  by controlling the Hydrogen extraction units  85 ,  86 . Also, a particular H2 flow rate into the mixer  84  can be established by controlling the plurality of devices  83 . Both is achieved by the Hydrogen control system  82 . 
         [0080]    For this, the Hydrogen control system  82  receives (not shown) as an input a data set which contains information about actual working conditions of the NH3 power generator  200 . These working conditions may include a status of combustion in an combustion chamber  201  of the NH3 power generator  200  and/or the amount of NH3 reaching the mixer  84  from the NH3 storage vessel  44 , i.e. the NH3 flow rate to the mixer  84 . Moreover, other combustion parameters which allow conclusions about working conditions in the NH3 power generator can also be included in the data set, for example a temperature and/or an actual chemical composition of the gas in the combustion chamber  201  and/or the chemical composition of combustion exhaust gases of the NH3 power generator  200 . Out of these and potentially other data, the Hydrogen control system  82  determines and establishes the optimum flow rate of Hydrogen H2 to be provided to the mixer  84  by controlling the H2 extraction units  85 ,  86  and/or the plurality of devices  83 . For example, the data might be determined with corresponding sensors (not shown) and sensor data might be transferred to the Hydrogen control system  82  wirelessly. 
         [0081]    The system  100  moreover comprises a main control unit  60  which is configured to control various components of the system  100  (connections of the main control unit  60  with other components of the system  100  are not shown in  FIG. 1  to avoid confusion). Especially, the main control unit  60  controls the process of generating energy  1 ″′ for the energy grid  300  and the production of NH3. 
         [0082]    In case the energy supply from the windmill  10  and the energy managing unit  11 , respectively, to the system  100  is too low, for example due to high energy demands in the energy grid  300 , the main control unit  60  reduces the production of NH3 by reducing the gas mass flow in the system  100  by powering down the compressors  33 ,  51  and/or the H2-N2-production unit  20  with the electrolyzer  21  and the ASU  22 . Thus, less energy  1 ′ is directed from the windmill  10  to the system  100  and more energy  1 ″ is available for the energy grid  300 . Moreover, the main control unit  60  increases the NH3 mass flow from the NH3 storage vessel  44  to the NH3 power generator  200 . Consequently, the NH3 power generator  200  increases the generation of energy  1 ′″ required for the energy grid  300  in order to guarantee a stable energy supply in the grid  300  to achieve a balanced load. 
         [0083]    In case the energy supply from the windmill  10  and the electricity managing unit  11 , respectively, to the system  100  is too high, for example when the windmill  10  generates more energy than required by the energy grid  300 , the main control unit  60  intensifies the production of NH3 in the system  100  by increasing the gas mass flow in the system  100  by providing more power to the compressors  33 ,  51 , to the electrolyzer  21  and/or to the ASU  22 . This results in an increased production of NH3 which is stored in the NH3 storage vessel  44 . However, the generation of energy  1 ″′ from the NH3 power generator  200  for the energy grid  300  is not increased, but it might be decreased. 
         [0084]    Moreover, the main control unit  60  controls the generation of power in the NH3 power generator  200  based on the energy consumption and demand in the electricity grid  300  and based on the available power supply by any energy sources available for the grid  300 . Thus, in case the available power supply in the grid  300  is less than the demand, the main control unit  60  would power up the NH3 power generator  200  to cover the demand. In case the available power supply in the grid  300  is higher than the demand, the main control unit  60  would power down the NH3 power generator  200  and the NH3 generation would be intensified by supplying more energy to the H2-N2-production unit  20  and by increasing the mass flow in the system  100  so that the NH3 storage vessel  44  can be filled up again. 
         [0085]    In other words, the main control unit  60  is configured to reduce the generation of NH3 to be directed to the NH3 storage vessel  44  and/or increase the generation of energy  1 ″′ during periods of too low renewable energy input  1 , e.g. during periods of low wind and/or high energy demands in the energy grid  300 . Also, the main control unit  60  is configured to increase the generation of NH3 to be directed to the NH3 storage vessel  44  and/or reduce the generation of energy  1 ′″ during periods of too high renewable energy input  1 , e.g. during periods of strong winds and/or low energy demands in the grid  300 . 
         [0086]    Thus, the controlling performed by the main control unit  60  may depend on the actual power demand in the energy grid  300 , the energy  1  generated by the renewable energy source  10 , and/or the actual amount of energy  1 ′ from the renewable energy source  10  available for the system  100 . 
         [0087]    Correspondingly, the main control unit  60  has to be connected to the energy grid  300  to receive information about the current energy demand and coverage in the grid  300 . Moreover, the main control unit  60  would be connected to the energy distribution unit  11  and/or to the windmill  10  directly to receive information about energy  1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″ provided by the windmill  10  and available for usage in the system  100  and in the grid  300 . The main control unit  60  would have to be connected to the H2-N2-production unit  20  to control the amount of produced Hydrogen and Nitrogen and to the various mixers and compressors, if applicable, to regulate the mass flow in the system. With this, the main control unit  60  can regulate the production of NH3 to be directed to the NH3 storage vessel  44 . In addition to this, the main control unit  60  is connected to the NH3 storage vessel  44  to regulate the supply of NH3 to the NH3 power generator  200  and to the NH3 power generator  200  itself to regulate the energy generation by NH3 combustion. Finally, the main control unit  60  can be connected to the Hydrogen control system  82  such that the Hydrogen H2 flow rate from the stages  21 ,  31  into the Hydrogen injection system  80  and/or the Hydrogen flow rate from the Hydrogen injection system  80  to the mixer  84  can also be influenced centrally by the main control unit  60 .