What is the TSTM storage technology and what is it used for?
Instead of simply shutting down surplus electricity from renewable sources as part of redispatch measures, we make full use of it by providing sufficient compressor capacity at grid nodes. This ensures that the entire amount of surplus electricity generated can be directly used to mechanically compress methane to 250–300 bar. For this purpose, methane is taken directly from the surrounding gas networks, and specially reinforced steel vessels are used for storage.
This principle of converting electricity into mechanical energy is similar to pumped-storage hydro plants, where water is pumped into higher reservoirs. The key difference: we use methane, which naturally contains about 10 kWh per m³ of chemical energy — and TSTM modules can be installed anywhere without geographical limitations.
The compressed methane acts as a gas battery, storing energy safely over many months.
Later, it can be used flexibly: for heat supply, electricity generation, or hydrogen production.
A major advantage of converting methane to hydrogen using pyrolysis or ColdSpark ® technology is that this process releases no CO₂ and requires no water.
The crucial point is: this type of hydrogen production is no longer just a vision — it is already a reality. Methane is abundantly available worldwide and does not need to be produced first. Moreover, there are already several companies that successfully produce hydrogen on an industrial scale using pyrolysis.