Decarbonising industry with Renewable Natural Gas

Project Information

Turn2X

Grant agreement ID: 101189219

DOI

10.3030/101189219

EC signature date 8 December 2024

Start date 1 October 2024

End date 31 December 2026

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 2 435 125,00

Coordinated by

TURN2X GMBH
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Turn2X (Decarbonising industry with Renewable Natural Gas)

Reporting period: 2024-10-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Climate neutrality is essential to halt global warming and reduce climate-related disasters, safeguarding both the environment and the economy. To achieve climate neutrality, urgent decarbonisation is needed across all economic sectors. However, certain ‘hard-to-abate' sectors such as heavy industry, gas utilities, and maritime transport face major barriers to switching from fossil fuels. Electrification is often technically or economically unfeasible, and alternatives typically require capital investment in new infrastructure and equipment.
TURN2X addresses this gap with a green, scalable solution: the production of renewable natural gas (RNG) from green hydrogen and biogenic CO2. This well-established process is made viable and scalable through TURN2X’s patented honeycomb reactor, which delivers high efficiency and modularity. The resulting RNG is chemically identical to fossil methane and fully compatible with existing gas infrastructure, allowing industries to decarbonise without retrofits or system overhauls.
Project Objectives
The Turn2X project aims to advance its RNG technology from TRL 7 to TRL 8, enabling commercial deployment of a modular, containerised reactor system.
TRL 7: Pilot Scale Validation
1.Improve reactor efficiency and material use through design optimisation.
2.Adopt advanced reactor geometry to enhance scalability and heat management.
3.Enable containerised deployment using standard 20 ft units for transport and integration.
4.Develop manufacturing protocols for scalable, modular production.
TRL 8: Full System Demonstration
1.Deploy and test a 1 MW modular unit under real-world conditions.
2.Complete the design of a 9 MW demonstration plant ready for construction.
3.Secure renewable input and RNG offtake agreements.
Pathway to Impact
By completing pilot deployment and detailed design for scale-up, TURN2X will lay the foundation for commercial rollout. Its drop-in compatibility enables near-term integration without major infrastructure changes.
The project supports EU priorities on energy security, industrial decarbonisation, and climate neutrality, providing a replicable model to accelerate renewable gas adoption in hard-to-abate sectors.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

TURN2X implemented internal systems to strengthen technical coordination and risk management. This included formalizing reporting structures, enhancing quality protocols, and introducing a structured risk register with mitigation measures to support decision-making. Preparations for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) engagement are ongoing, pending finalization of reactor designs.

TURN2X launched collaborations to prepare for the demonstration plant:
1.Weekly coordination with a European project partner to explore co-development.
2.Joint assessments at prospective sites in southern Spain.
3.A data-sharing partnership with a renewable energy software provider to support site screening and infrastructure mapping.
4.Engagements with renewable electricity providers and grid operators to advance interconnection planning.
5.Preliminary outreach to CO2 suppliers to secure access to biogenic feedstock.
These activities underpin long-term input security and set the foundation for future replication.

A digital model was developed to simulate the honeycomb reactor’s behaviour under various thermal and flow conditions. The model supports optimisation of reactor geometry and operating strategies.
To validate the simulation, a laboratory-scale test system is being constructed. Installed as a side-stream unit at the pilot plant in Spain, it will allow testing of three reactor diameters under varying process conditions, informing further design refinement.

A 1 MW advanced reactor concept was finalised with focus on optimising thermal performance and material thickness for scale-up. It will be installed on vertical skids to simplify deployment and logistics. Site digitalisation and tie-in planning were completed. A HAZOP study is being conducted to ensure safety and compliance with EU regulations.

The project reached FEL3 (Front-End-Loading) stage, with key technical aspects completed:
1.Full process diagrams, equipment lists, and infrastructure alignment.
2.An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), concluding a net-positive impact across emissions, biodiversity, land use, and efficiency.
Design work aligns with the EU Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) and is guided by experienced regulatory consultants to ensure compliance through permitting and construction

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The Turn2X project has advanced key technological and engineering foundations for scalable, renewable methane production through a novel methanation process that overcomes existing limitations in efficiency, modularity, and deployability. The project’s results mark a step beyond the current state of the art in power-to-gas technology, particularly for industrial-scale applications in hard-to-abate sectors.
Technical Innovation
TURN2X developed a digital twin to simulate the thermal and flow dynamics of its proprietary honeycomb reactor. This model guides reactor optimisation and reduces the need for physical prototyping. Two 1 MW reactor designs were completed:
•A advanced variant that reduces material use and improves heat distribution.
•An enhanced version of the existing proprietary design, optimised for manufacturability.
Both are designed for vertical skid integration, maintaining the footprint of a 20 ft unit while improving access and standardisation. A lab-scale test rig is under construction to validate model outputs across different geometries, and will be deployed at an existing site in Spain.
The 9 MW demonstration plant has reached the detailed engineering stage, with full process documentation, site layout, and permitting inputs prepared. The plant follows EU regulations and uses a modular design for future replication.
Toward Market Readiness
TURN2X has:
1.Engaged partners to secure renewable inputs and grid access.
2.Conducted feasibility and integration planning for site deployment.
3.Completed an Environmental Impact Assessment, confirming a net-positive operational impact.
These outcomes position TURN2X to deliver a drop-in renewable methane solution, compatible with existing gas infrastructure and ready to support near-term decarbonisation.

Presentation of TURN2X at EIC SUNERGY conference in Brussels 2025

Aerial photo of the RNG plant with electrolyser units and methanation unit