Turning renewable electricity into reliable fuel
“Our aim is to enable the constant production of biomethane even when renewable power production drops.”
Hydrogen produced from renewable power sources could be used to turn biogenic CO2 into biomethane. To be fully viable however, this process needs to be scalable, reliable and affordable. What’s more, any efficient production system needs to overcome the challenge of intermittency when it comes to renewable energy sources. This is where the EU-funded METHAREN project comes in. Researchers plan to develop a means of managing this intermittency without the need for energy storage devices. Instead, they will directly bridge renewable power production to the gas grid, while simultaneously maximising conversion efficiency. “This will be achieved through integrating and installing a combination of technologies,” explains project manager Xavier Millerand from Technip Energies, based in France. “Our aim is to enable the constant production of biomethane even when renewable power production drops.” The METHAREN project will develop an innovative integrated system consisting of a biowaste gasification system, a solid oxide electrolyser and a methanation system. The system will reuse water and oxygen, as well as heat, to maximise efficiency and sustainability. “Another key aspect is being able to directly and continuously convert renewably sourced electricity into gas, without the need for storage,” adds Millerand. “This is a critical differentiating point.” Following initial engineering studies, the project will develop and fine-tune these technologies. “In particular, the high-temperature electrolyser envisaged by the project team needs to gain in technical maturity,” says Millerand. These technologies will then be integrated into an existing biogas unit in northern Italy. The process will be validated by running the pilot unit, with a view to upscaling and eventual commercialisation. The project team is confident that this pioneering process will deliver cost and production efficiencies for biogas plants. Already, at least 30 other sites with replication potential have been identified. “The ultimate goal is to provide Europe with the technology it needs to significantly ramp up biomethane production,” notes Millerand. “We believe that this project will demonstrate a viable way of achieving this.”
Keywords
biomethane, biogas, natural gas, sustainability, renewable fuels, green energy transition, REPowerEU, Research and Innovation, renewable technologies, biomethane technologies, solar energy