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Pitch

Implement and use the production of low-emission fuels for mobility with the help of a own energy supply


Description

Summary

At first glance, my suggestion does not meet the proposed specifications of this competition and he is also not really designed for it. But a report in the second German television from 02 February this year on "synthetic fuels" has made me to submit my proposal for this competition. In addition to the use of these fuels for ships, this reports on the blending to that synthetic kerosene for the airplanes and this is certainly of major importance in relation to the Lufthansa aircraft fleet. An important prerequisite for the production of synthetic fuels is the development and expansion of emission-free energy systems. And at this point my idea starts, my suggestion is that an already existing a low-emission and energy-efficient system under other conditions for autonomous power generation by the industry individually for their own purposes. In particular for this competition the development and production of low-emission fuels for general mobility could thus be supported. The basic idea is to use a hydro power plant that would operate on the principle of a pumped storage power plant and directly below the coast at sea level in an underground cavern to generate electricity. The use of the sea as the upper source of water would make it possible to use this system in a relative small depth of use of 15 to 75 meters in 24/7 operation. This is a very important point to be able to use such a power plant under the economic aspect. This possible result of my proposal conforms then be one of the requirements in the field of mobility and could be used for many purposes if advancement accordingly.      


What concrete idea do you propose?

The inspiration for this proposal I found in the construction and commissioning of the pumped storage power plant near Goldisthal/Thuringia. The aim of my considerations was to find a way to use this system for the storage of electricity from offshore wind turbines directly on the German coast in 24/7 operation. The first requirement to find a suitable source of water for my idea is answered relatively quickly with the planned use of the sea. The fact that one can operate such a system basically with seawater proves a successful implementation of a pumped storage power plant on Okinawa/Japan. In order to be able to operate such a system on the German coast, however, such a power plant system would have to be relocated to an underground cavern and the sea would be used as the upper source of water. The use of sea as a quasi-unlimited source of water makes it possible to build a very high water pressure in a relatively small depth of 15 to 75 meters in a pressure tunnel and to use for power generation. That is very important to be able to use such a system effectively and economically. Another important advantage of my proposal is that this power plant system though uses the sea as a source of water but is not directly exposed to this element. This system is suitable for storage and/or generation of electricity (even for a very large power requirement). In order to be able to classify my idea in a realistic context, I searched for real buildings and constructions with similar conditions. I found similar at the Moscow metro (subways in general), in the underground city in Montreal/Canada as well as at various tunnels around the world. In particular, the basic structure of a subway corresponds practically to my suggestion.

The inlet for the water could be, for example, a few meters below the waterline of a quay wall from a pier of a harbor. From there, the water would flow into the pressure tunnel in which the water is accumulated to build up the required water pressure. Through a nozzle at the lower part of the pressure tunnel, the built-up water pressure would be used to drive a turbine. This turbine, along with other necessary machinery, would be located in an underground cavern (similar to the machine cavern in Goldisthal) just below the pier facility of a port. The water used for power generation would then flow into underground tunnels, which take over the task of the lower water reservoir. Around that to be able to pump the water out of the tunnel tubes again would be a second power source (e.g., Wind turbine) required. In this way, a circulatory system in the field of power generation can be produced that can be built in the immediate vicinity of many potential electricity consumers.

For this competition, this could mean that the electricity generated in this way can be used to produce low-emission or emission-free fuels. But he could also be used by big companies like Google to develop a own and autonomous energy source. Especially since I saw in a TV report that Google is very active in the area of autonomous energy supply (for example wave power plants off the coast of Irland). If promoted correctly, my idea has sure enormous potential.     


Who will take these actions?

With my proposal, I would like to present a solution for the industry or the economy in the first place, because they have the necessary resources and expertise to successfully support such an idea. 

For this proposal in this competition, the main players would be institutes, colleges, universities, companies and similar bodies dealing with the theme synthetic or alternative fuels. These could, with the help of my idea, to get an autonomous energy system that they could use for their own purposes. With the possible result that these actors for the industry and the economy could offer sufficient alternatives to fossil fuels. For example, consortium of aircraft manufactures, airlines, the auto industry and other interested investors could finance the financing of such an energy system for the area mobility. 

My idea is still at the very beginning and very abstract in this presentation, so I`m looking for a way to develop it professionally. This competition seems to me to be a good opportunity to create a concrete concept from a theoretical idea. This can then be made available to the German economy and used for individual energy solutions. By participating in this competition, I would like to find a way to develop my idea with competent support. 


Impact/Benefits


What impact will these actions have on sustainability within Travel & Mobility?

The possibility of significantly increasing the share of alternative fuels (hydrogen, synthetic fuels, etc.) would have a direct positive impact on emission levels in the field of mobility. The output of harmful emissions from ships, airplanes and vehicles could be reduced and would help the tourism industry in many areas to significantly improve their environment balance. In the process, existing structures and capacities for tourism mobility could essentially be maintained and even expanded. The demand for unrestricted and environmentally friendly mobility from am economic point of view could certainly be largely met.  


About the team members