Energy and Cost Optimization of Biomethane Production

Biomethane (upgraded biogas in the natural gas grid) is often seen as an expensive form of renewable energy, compared to e.g. electricity from wind turbines and solar panels. Even though biomethane has advantages compared to electricity (like reasonable storage costs and waste handling), efforts should be made to make production of biomethane cheaper.

Today, approx. 200 million Nm³/year biomethane is produced and injected in the natural gas grid, replacing fossil natural gas. This equals nearly 8% of the annual Danish natural gas consumption. This biomethane is produced at almost 30 biogas plants, and more will be commissioned within the next few years.

There is still a large potential for further biomethane production; the biomass potential is available, but an increase requires that financial framework and incentives support the investments.

This project will contribute to an improvement of the financial incentives for biomethane production by identifying the best ways to increase the income and reduce costs.

The results of the project will be evaluated in a RDD (Research, Development and Demonstration) catalogue, so all actors in the biogas business will have an easily accessible tool to assist the decision of which measures are relevant for further evaluation in their specific plant.