Biomethane and e-methane: clean energy for the future

Growing demand for low-emission gases

Renewable methane is a key player in a sustainable energy system. This clean, low-emission gas makes our energy network more flexible and contributes to a greener future. Methane can be sustainably produced from biomass waste streams (biogas or biomethane) as well as from green electricity and carbon dioxide (e-methane). According to the European Biogas Association (EBA), demand for these gases will more than double in the medium term. The EU estimates that the total amount of renewable methane that can be produced by biological processes will be 165 BCM (billion cubic metres) by 2050. This is equivalent to 50% of Europe's current natural gas consumption. To meet this demand, innovation in the sector is vital.

Applications of biogas

1. Direct combustion

Biogas can be combusted directly to produce electricity and heat. This is ideal for decentralised energy production, but can also be connected to the grid. This process is particularly efficient if all the heat can be used locally. Another good strategy is to store the biogas and use it to generate electricity when solar and wind power production drops.

2. Upgrading to biomethane

Most of the biogas produced today is used as biomethane in our gas grid as a substitute for natural gas. This requires an upgrading step. The EU strategy is to focus as much as possible on the production of biomethane as a renewable energy carrier because of its specific properties. The European potential for 2040 and 2050 is estimated at 74 and 99 BCM respectively.

3. Production of e-methanee

Methanisation can produce about one and a half times more biomethane from biogas than conventional upgrading. This involves converting the carbon dioxide from biogas (60% methane, 40% carbon dioxide) into e-methane (100% methane) using green hydrogen. In the Netherlands, this technology could eventually increase the total production of renewable methane from 2BCM to 3BCM without the need for additional biomass residues. The EU estimates that e-methane could contribute up to 65 BCM by 2050 through biogas upgrading.

 

Advantages of E-methane

E-methane production offers significant advantages. Additional methane can be produced without the need for additional biomass. This leads to greater flexibility as there is a limit to the amount of biomass residues available. Instead of considering the carbon dioxide from biogas as a residual product, it is actually reused as a feedstock, as in nature. This increases the carbon efficiency of biomass residue streams. As the production of green hydrogen is carbon neutral, the carbon footprint of e-methane is lower than that of conventional biogas. In addition to the sustainability benefits, there are also significant advantages in the usability of biomethane. Biomethane upgrades renewable energy from the sun and wind into a green fuel that can be used for multiple purposes, fits into existing infrastructure and is also suitable for seasonal storage. Methane offers significant advantages over hydrogen in terms of safety, transportability and applicability as a sustainable replacement for natural gas and LNG. It also requires 3 times less storage volume for the same energy content and is easier to liquefy. In short, e-methane is a logical product for our future.

Challenges and opportunities

The first e-methane pilots and demonstrators are up and running in Europe. The scale is still relatively limited because the investment and operating costs of producing green hydrogen are currently very high. It is expected that with the falling cost of hydrogen production and the increasing demand for renewable methane, the technology will gain momentum in the energy market over the coming years. This provides an opportunity for companies and governments to further develop, optimise and demonstrate the e-methanisation process.

What can we do for you?

Bioclear earth specialises in the optimisation of e-methane production processes through two microbiological routes: 

1. The In-Situ Method: higher biogas purity in existing digesters

In in-situ biological methanisation involves adding hydrogen directly to the digester with the aim of increasing methane production and biogas quality without the need for an additional bioreactor. However, there is a maximum amount of hydrogen that can be added to a digester. It is also important that the extra hydrogen added does not disrupt the fermentation processes in a digester.

2. Ex-situ biological methanisation: optimal control for maximum efficiency

Ex-situ biological methanisation uses an additional bioreactor. The ex-situ process is placed next to a digester. The process also offers the possibility of producing methane from carbon dioxide and hydrogen independently of organic waste streams. The ex-situ technology offers advantages in terms of process control, robustness and efficiency. It is possible to completely convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen into methane using a specialised community of microorganisms. Optimally designed, this can be done at a 'high rate', allowing systems to remain relatively small. The system is more manageable thanks to precise control of process conditions, and by keeping the processes separate, there is no risk of interfering with normal biogas production.

 

Optimising your e-methane production

Thanks to our many years of experience with biological e-methanisation and our own lab-scale reactors, we can offer our customers:

  • Quick Scan: advice on the technical and economic feasibility and local integration of a biomethanisation system.
  • R&D Support: assistance in the development of new systems.
  • Feasibility studies of new systems: laboratory scale reactor research and scale-up monitoring.
  • Process control and monitoring: advice on critical monitoring and control parameters, analysis frequency, data processing related to mass balances and process efficiencies, microbiome mapping and integration with process data for pilot and demonstration systems.
  • Commissioning and support: quick, trouble-free start-up and stable production through our on-site support, advice and analysis.
  • Troubleshooting: effective problem analysis and advice in the event of unexpected malfunctions.

 

Get in touch with us to find out how we can support and optimise your bio-methanisation projects.

Please contact Jeroen Tideman or Svenja Bents.

Contact Jeroen
Contact Svenja

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