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Microwave plasma for Power to X
Power to X : an overview
Power-to-X (P2X) technologies convert surplus electricity from renewable sources — wind and solar — into storable or industrially useful chemical compounds. Four main markets drive this space:
Power-to-Gas (PtG) converts surplus electricity into hydrogen or synthetic methane for energy storage and gas grid injection
Power-to-Liquid (PtL) produces synthetic liquid fuels (e-kerosene, methanol) targeting hard-to-decarbonize transport sectors
Power-to-Chemicals (PtC) replaces fossil-based feedstocks with CO₂-derived building blocks for the chemical industry
Power-to-Syngas (PtS) converts co-located CH₄ and CO₂ streams into synthesis gas, the key feedstock for fuels, chemicals, and energy carriers
Discover our industrial PlasmaSpin sources!
Why microwave plasma ?
Microwave plasma torches are suited to Power-to-X because they switch on/off in seconds (matching renewable intermittency), break CO₂ bonds more efficiently, operate at atmospheric pressure, and can scale modularly from kW to MW — enabling both CO₂ splitting and direct CH₄/CO₂ dry reforming into synthesis gas.
Key advantages of microwave plasma
Homogeneous and stable plasma
Our technologies generate highly uniform plasma, ensuring consistent treatment conditions and improved process repeatability.
High ionization efficiency
High ionization density enables enhanced reaction kinetics, optimized yields, and improved process performance.
Scalable multi-source architecture
Multi-source integration enables wide and uniform plasma distribution, supporting large-area processing and seamless industrial scale-up.
Efficient power transfer
Direct energy coupling minimizes power losses, ensuring high energy efficiency and stable plasma generation
When microwave plasma can make a difference ?
Microwave plasma torches are most relevant wherever surplus renewable electricity and concentrated carbon streams — CO₂, CH₄, or both — are available on the same site. This covers a broad range of industrial contexts:
Power-to-Gas
power plants and grid-connected renewable installations seeking flexible energy storage and gas grid injection
Power-to-Liquid
airports, refineries, and shipping hubs transitioning to synthetic fuels
Power-to-Chemicals
cement, glass, and chemical facilities with concentrated CO₂ emissions
.
Power-to-Syngas
biogas sites, breweries, and wastewater treatment plants where CH₄ and CO₂ are co-produced
Everything You Need to Know: How Microwave Plasma can be a key solution for Power to X?
Conventional catalytic reforming operates at high temperature and favors steady-state conditions, making it poorly suited to intermittent renewable inputs. Microwave plasma torches offer rapid start-up and operational flexibility, and eliminate catalyst-related degradation.
Want to optimize your power to X processes?
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PLASMASPIN RANGE
Discover Sairem’s PlasmaSpin sources
PlasmaSpin is Sairem’s atmospheric pressure microwave plasma source specifically designed for Power-to-X applications.
PlasmaSpin is available in two versions to accompany integrators at every stage of their project:
- 2450 MHz version : designed for scientific investigations and process experimentation, enabling researchers to characterize and optimize plasma conditions before scaling up.
- 915 MHz – 100 kW version — a high-power configuration allowing system integrators to run full-scale demonstrations and validate their process before transitioning to industrial deployment.
Sairem supplies the PlasmaSpin source together with its associated solid-state generator, providing a reliable and controllable microwave power solution.