Using
power-to-X-technologies, sector coupling offers possibilites to exploit synergies across different energy sectors, for example by using
power-to-heat-technologies such as
heat pumps and cheap thermal energy storage to (better) integrate surplus energy from renewable electricity and thus decarbonize the heating sector. It also includes the production of
electrofuels, by which aviation or shipping can be decarbonized. However, in order to reach the highest efficiency and lowest cost, direct electricity use in technologies such as heat pumps and
battery-electric vehicles should be prioritized wherever possible, while much less efficient
hydrogen solutions or hydrogen-to-X conversions for e-fuels and e-chemicals should only be used where other solutions are impossible. Though, while
electrification typically is the most cost-efficient
decarbonization route in all economic sectors, there still remains a relatively small but though essential contribution of hydrogen use to allow deep decarbonization. Sector coupling has also been used to overcome undesired limitations from single sector based energy analysis. Typically, if energy system analysis focus only on the electricity sector, these studies often result in high levels of curtailment of renewable power and high costs of balancing, as they cannot use the flexibility provided by other energy sectors. This can lead to unrealistic assumptions and results. However, if a fully integrated smart energy system is used, cheaper solutions in non-electricity-sectors can be used, as a cross-sectoral approach makes it possible to convert renewable electricity to energy carriers that can be stored in much more affordable types of
energy storage. == Further reading ==