Production of synthetic hydrocarbons

An eFuels production system, comprising:

• a) an electrolysis unit to react electricity and a water feed stream in the presence of an electrolysis catalyst to form a hydrogen stream and an oxygen stream, wherein the electrolysis unit:
• i) comprises one or more alkaline electrolysis cells (AECs), one or more proton exchange membrane cells (PEMs), or a combination thereof;
• and
• ii) is capable of changing from a first amount of electrical load to a second amount of electrical load and from a first amount of water feed rate, corresponding to the first amount of electrical load, to a second amount of water feed rate, corresponding to the second amount of electrical load, at a rate of change greater than or equal to 0.1%/sec, wherein 100% is the maximum electrical load of the electrolysis unit;
• and
• b) a hydrocarbon synthesis (HS) system to convert carbon dioxide and at least a portion of the hydrogen stream to produce one or more of synthetic liquefied gas (SLG), a synthetic light distillate (SLD), a synthetic middle distillate (SMD), and a synthetic heavy distillate (SHD).

A process for producing a hydrogen product stream comprising:

• a) operating an electrolysis unit at a first production rate to produce a first hydrogen product stream at a first flow rate, wherein the electrolysis unit is powered by a first electrical load from an electrical power grid corresponding to the first flow rate;
• b) reducing the first electrical load from an electrical power grid to a second electrical load from the electrical power grid, wherein the second load is in range of from 0 to 99% of the first electrical power load;
• c) in response to the reduction in electrical power load from the electrical power grid:
• i) introducing a third electrical power load from an electrical storage system, comprising one or more batteries, one or more fuel cells, or a combination thereof, wherein the third electrical power load is in the range of from 1% of the first electrical power load to the difference between the first electrical power load and the second electrical power load;
• and/or
• ii) reducing the first hydrogen product stream to a second flow rate in the range of from 1% of the first flow rate to a flow rate corresponding to the second electrical power load and withdrawing hydrogen from a hydrogen storage system as a second hydrogen product stream at a rate equivalent to the difference between the first flow rate and the second flow rate, wherein a rate of change from the first electrical power load to the second electrical power load is greater than or equal to 0.1%/sec, wherein 100% is a maximum electrical load of the electrolysis unit;
• wherein steps i) and/or ii) are implemented to an extent such that the third electrical power load and the withdrawal rate from the hydrogen storage system maintain the hydrogen feed stream at a rate equivalent to the first flow rate.