Project description
A fossil fuel alternative: biogas upgrading for small-scale biomethane production
Biomethane is an upgraded form of biogas that provides a good alternative to fossil fuels. Biogas upgrading is the process whereby methane is separated from undesired components such as CO2 and hydrogen sulfide. However, the production and use of biomethane in small-scale production has been hindered by expensive technologies. The EU-funded UBI project is addressing this limitation through a simple, cost-effective biogas upgrading technology specifically designed for small-scale biomethane production that will reduce energy requirements and operating costs. The project aims to make it economically feasible to produce and use biomethane where it would normally not have been considered an option.
Objective
Biomethane is an upgraded form of biogas which can be directly used as vehicle fuel or for gas grid injection. Biogas upgrading to biomethane is the process where CO2 and other undesired components present in raw biogas, such as H2S, are removed. Cleaning and upgrading biogas makes 30% of the total costs of the final biomethane product or even more in small scale biomethane production. Current physical/chemical technologies are expensive, energy intensive and are not designed for small-scale (<200Nm3/h raw biogas), with operational and investment costs increasing exponentially in low production scenarios. This hinders the widespread production and use of biomethane. Trovant Technology is addressing this limitation with its UBI technology. UBI is a simple, cost effective biogas upgrading technology, based on biological processes, and specifically designed for small scale. It reduces energy requirements and operating costs. In addition, it captures and stores the CO2 removed from the biogas in the form of biomass, which is readily available for new biogas generation. UBI holds the potential to disrupt de-localized biomethane production making it economically feasible in scenarios where it is not considered an option nowadays. Our preliminary market data show that Europe dominates the biomethane market, concentrating 75% of the global business. UBI will compete in the biogas upgrading equipment market, which is expected to reach 1,200 Million US$ by 2024. The development of this technology to market is aligned with Trovant’s strategy for growth and consolidation as a leader in the biomethane sector. As a next step, we will carry out a solid feasibility study covering all the aspects required prior to market launch: detailed analysis of the technical development needed, in-depth commercial feasibility study including a detailed market assessment; and a thorough financial plan covering all the following stages.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
47016 Valladolid
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.