Past, Present and Near Future: An Overview of Closed, Running and Planned Biomethanation Facilities in Europe

Abstract

The power-to-methane technology is promising for long-term, high-capacity energy storage. Currently, there are two different industrial-scale methanation methods: the chemical one (based on the Sabatier reaction) and the biological one (using microorganisms for the conversion). The second method can be used not only to methanize the mixture of pure hydrogen and carbon dioxide but also to methanize the hydrogen and carbon dioxide content of low-quality gases, such as biogas or deponia gas, enriching them to natural gas quality; therefore, the applicability of biomethanation is very wide. In this paper, we present an overview of the existing and planned industrial-scale biomethanation facilities in Europe, as well as review the facilities closed in recent years after successful operation in the light of the scientific and socioeconomic context. To outline key directions for further developments, this paper interconnects biomethanation projects with the competitiveness of the energy sector in Europe for the first time in the literature. The results show that future projects should have an integrative view of electrolysis and biomethanation, as well as hydrogen storage and utilization with carbon capture and utilization (HSU&CCU) to increase sectoral competitiveness by enhanced decarbonization.

Dynamic Corporate Governance, Innovation, and Sustainability: Post-COVID Period

“…The authors declare no conflict of interest. "fits the new business needs" "generated additional resource need" "fully new" "not specificated" "redesigning" "redevelopment" "it was not an initial need" "it should not have been working this way" "adaptation" "fine-tuning" "almost ready" "future development goals" "modification request" "request for extension" Comment P2G drives renewable energy integration and provides long-term energy storage [132,133] There is no specific regulation for P2G in Hungary, but it is planned.…”

Potential for Biomethanisation of CO2 from Anaerobic Digestion of Organic Wastes in the United Kingdom

“…These mixed communities already contain the hydrogenotrophic methanogens which catalyse the direct CO 2 biomethanisation route shown in Equation (1), as well as syntrophic organisms able to mediate indirect routes, e.g., via homoacetogenesis and acetoclastic methanogenesis [2,3]. The combination of AD with H 2 addition to promote CO 2 biomethanisation can thus improve the methane productivity of digesters fed on organic feedstocks [4], increasing the energy output (and therefore, viability) [5,6] and enhancing the carbon utilisation efficiency [7].…”

“…Nevertheless, future policy which considers this option cannot be formulated and then prescribed without the necessary data for modelling and assessment. CO 2 biomethanisation is still in its early stages as a commercial process, with only a few examples of plants operating at scale [7], almost all of which are based on the use of separate dedicated bioreactors fed on gaseous inputs in ex situ processes [3,5]. There is, however, a growing body of research on in situ and hybrid processes in which H 2 alone or with additional CO 2 is injected directly into a digester, with a variety of organic feedstocks, equipment configurations and operating conditions.…”

“…Alternative routes to CO 2 methanisation via thermal catalytic conversion are also currently under development [4,7] but are not considered in this paper as the principle focus is on conversion of biogas from AD of organic wastes.…”

Seasonal Energy Storage with Power-to-Methane Technology

“…Finally, Zavarkó et al [7] reviewed the status of the technology by giving a critical review of closed, running, and planned biomethanation facilities in Europe. According to their results, future projects should have an integrative view of (chemical) hydrogen storage and utilization with carbon capture and utilization (HSU&CCU).…”