El upgraded biogas

The project objectives are

• to design, construct and operate a pilot plant for methanation of CO2 in biogas by means of hydrogen

produced from steam in a Solid Oxide Electrolyzer (SOEC) at a scale of approximately 10 Nm3/h

corresponding to 40 kW SOEC capacity.

• to monitor the efficiency and durability of the process steps and estimate costs of a full scale plant, that

can compete with traditional upgrading of biogas and elaborate a plan for market introduction and market

development.

• to analyze the value of the technology for the Danish electricity and gas infrastructure.

Methanation of biogas will at the same time offer storage possibilities for wind produced electricity (and

thus reduce the need of power transmission), upgrading of biogas and extend the biogas resource with 50 –

80 % (and thus reduce natural gas supply insecurities and CO2 emissions).

Previous projects have indicated that a conversion efficiency from electrical power input to lower heating

value of methane of 74-76 % can be achieved. In addition the efficiency of waste heat for district heating of

will be 14 %.

These high efficiencies are obtainable due to the inherent high efficiency of the SOEC technology and the

synergy with advanced methanation technology capable of producing the steam used in the SOEC unit.

The project partners cover the complete value chain from agricultural raw materials and electrical power to

the utilization of the upgraded biogas.

Haldor Topsøe A/S will be the project coordinator and perform the design of the demonstration unit and the

full scale commercial plant. Topsøe will also supply the SOEC module and cleaning masses for the biogas

and catalyst for the methanation step.

Aarhus University will supply biogas feedstock from their existing biogas reactor in Foulum. AU will be

responsible for day to day operation and advanced sulfur analyses

Based on pilot plant data a feasibility study will be done for a full scale plant. PlanEnergi together with Ea

Energy Analyses will optimize the full scale plant design based on dynamic models of the predicted, future

price structure for electricity.

HMN Naturgas and Naturgas Fyn will do the engineering work for pipelines and will also contribute with

their knowledge the quality demand from the natural gas system

Energi Midt will install electricity connection.

Xergi have built the existing test plant at Foulum and will participate with their knowledge of biogas plant

design.

DGC will perform certified analysis of biogas and product gases.

Cemtec will look into certifications of components and permits.

Ea Energy Analyses will combine the obtained information into a dynamic model. Based on this model the

value for society for integrating a biogas methanation plant into the energy system will be evaluated.