Power-to-Gas via Biological Catalysis (P2G-BioCat)

The results of the life cycle assessment of the BioCat II plant indicate that regardless of the CO2 input source, the plant and the BioCat II technology have a good reduction potential in comparison to the fossil equivalent. The basic scenario (scenario 4) which is the long-term perspective of the BioCat II plant in Avedøre has the lowest environmental impact with a Global Warming Reduction Potential of 75% compared to the fossil equivalent. The GWP emissions of the scenarios are dominated by process steps where regular Danish grid mix is used, i.e. the standby electricity of the electrolyzer, the standby electricity of the rest of the plant and the compression of the biomethane at the filling station to 200 bar. Additionally, the thermal energy credit for replacing thermal energy from natural gas has a high impact. A further lowering of the environmental burdens is possible by using wind power also for the standby energy consumption and/or by increasing the amount of full load hours per year. To conclude, from an environmental perspective the BioCat II plant is a very good concept to provide renewable methane with significant lower environmental impact as fossil methane.