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Biomethane: The Future of Renewable Gas

This article explores the benefits of biomethane as a renewable energy source, its support systems, the process of injecting biomethane into the gas grid, its use in vehicles, current and future projects, barriers and issues, and concludes with its potential for significant growth and contribution to meeting renewable energy targets.

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Biomethane: The Future of Renewable Gas

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  1. Renewable GasBiomethane4th October 2013Alison CartwrightMSc, CEng, MIMechE

  2. Summary • Why Biomethane • Support for biomethane • What is biomethane • Injecting biomethane into the gas grid • Use of biomethane in vehicles • Current and future projects • Barriers and issues • Conclusions

  3. Why Biomethane? • UK total gas demand 750TWh • UK domestic gas demand approximately 300TWh/annum • Investment in insulation and efficient heating reduce to 200TWh/annum • 7TWh/annum 2020 target for biomethane • Realistic biomethane MAX is 20TWh/annum – potenially 10% of UK domestic demand • Biomethane is a constant source of energy • Essential to the mix with bio SNG and Power to Gas • Closed loop with ‘waste to wheel’ • Low CO2 - especially if waste food is used

  4. Support for Biomethane • Renewable Heat Incentive • 7.3p/kWh for injected biomethane into the gas grid • Ofgem group ‘Energy Market Issues for Biomethane’ (EMIB) • Expert group to address issues • Reduction in capital costs • European wide projects promoting biomethane and green gas funded by Intelligent Energy Europe • Biomaster • Green Gas Grids • Bio-methane regions

  5. What is Biomethane? • Kitchen Waste • Commercial food waste • Landfill • Sewage • Farm Wastes • Industrial Waste

  6. Anaerobic Digestion

  7. Biogas Composition • Methane (CH4) 55 - 60% • CO2  35 - 40% • O2 0.1 – 0.4% • N2 0.4 – 1.6% • H2S 200 – 2,000 ppm • H2O Biogas is saturated with water • Siloxanes Typically present in sewage derived biogas To get biomethane into the grid, need to remove all H2S, most CO2 and dry the gas

  8. Clean-up and Upgrade

  9. Propane Addition • Increase the calorific value (CV) of biomethane to the same as that in the gas grid

  10. Grid Entry Unit • Measures quality and energy values • Entry Facility comprises the following: • Odorant storage and injection • Gas quality monitoring • Gas CV measurement • Gas flow measurement • Pressure control • Aim Total capex<£300k for this plant in 2013 • Falling to < £150k by 2015

  11. Biomethane as Vehicle Fuel Typically 1 bar 250 bar Storage Cascade CNG-CBM Compressors Dispenser Supply from gas grid Local Gas Grid Pipe x 0.02 bar 7 bar Biogas supply from Anaerobic Digester 3 bar Biogas Clean-up and upgrading plant Odorant and gas quality Propane Added There are practical difficulties running vehicles directly on biomethane because AD production is constant, vehicle fill patterns very lumpy…..need to use the gas grid

  12. With CNG it is not chicken and egg because of our £10 billion gas grid • Its entirely about the vehicles • We now have them and many more on the way

  13. Didcot – UK’s First BtG Project Anaerobic Digesters Propane Storage Gas bag Propane Injector Telemetry Energy & quality Measurement Flow of biogas - 100 m3/hr First gas to grid on 3rd Oct 2010 H2S and Siloxane filters Biogas upgrader

  14. Poundbury - Dorset • Approximately 37,000 MWh injected p.a. • Electricity and gas injection • First injection 2012

  15. Springhill (Vale Green) near Evesham • Approximately 37,000 MWh p.a. • Go live – August 2013

  16. Future Biogas - Doncaster • Agricultural • Approximately 35,000 MWh p.a. • Go live Q4 2013

  17. Barriers and Issues • RHI uncertainty • No pre-accreditation • Minimum 18 month projects • No sight of incentive past April 2015 • Degression possible if multiple large projects • German AD companies in financial difficulties due to cut in tariffs • Public perception of Anaerobic Digestion • Injection into the gas grid set up for large flows • Lengthy procedures in some areas

  18. Conclusions • It has taken 7 years but the regime looks good – 40 projects in next 2 – 3 years is possible • UK has extensive gas grid and the full support of UK gas distribution network owners • 3% of domestic customer gas supply by 2020 is a reasonable target • 7TWh+ out of around 300 TWh demand (around 150 projects of 600 M3/hr biogas) • Biomethane project economics are attractive • Important to get capital costs down via competition and innovation • Green Gas Certificates • CNG for trucks and buses and CHP/District Heating for new housing The biomethane market is set to grow, delivering significant benefits and helping meet 2020 targets – fuel of the future!

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