New method for upgrading of biogas

Biogas is produced in Denmark in considerable amounts (1.2 TWh in 2010) but the gas is usually only used for local heating and production of electricity by gas combustion motors. The problem is that it is full of impurities which are difficult to remove but also that it contains a large amount of CO2. 
The objective of the project is to develop a new concept for upgrading biogas to natural gas for use in the Danish gas distribution system by an electrochemical methanisation of the carbon dioxide contained in the gas. The electricity to this process should come from wind turbines. The proposed concept can reduce the energy consumption with ca. 20% compared to today’s State of the Art (H2 production by electrolysis and subsequent methanisation). The concept is furthermore expected to reduce the demands for purification of the raw biogas before methanisation  considerably. The development of an adapted procedure for this purification will also be an important part of the project. The proof of concept of the electrochemical step will be shown on single cell level.  If successful, the results will provide the basis for a later demonstration project in a larger scale