Whether as a source of electricity to generate heat locally, to supply heat by pipeline or to feed into the gas network after processing - Biogas is multi-talented and versatile. The weather-independent generation is a predictable source of revenue for the operator, since energy from biogas is not subject to any price fluctuations. At the same time, a biogas plant actively contributes to environmental protection and energy mix of the future.
Biomethane upgrading opens up a promising future market for the biogas industry. With feed-in into the public natural gas grid, the green all-rounder is perfect for the decentralised supply of energy, offering a long-term replacement for fossil natural gas and driving the energy transition forward. What’s more, the biomethane manufactured in the gas upgrading plant has the exact same properties as natural gas, being just as flexible in its usage and easier to store than other energy sources. Plus, it’s renewable.
Anaerobic digestion of organic materials creates a gas composed of methane and carbon dioxide. To upgrade the biogas to natural gas-quality biomethane, the crude gas is first purified and compressed. The membrane technology we use then exploits the different sizes and permeation speeds of the two kinds of gas molecules involved: since carbon dioxide molecules are smaller than methane molecules, they can migrate through the membrane much more quickly. As a result, the methane remains on the high-pressure side, while the CO2 molecules in the biogas pass through. As a result, the gas upgrading needs neither chemicals nor water nor any other resources.
The starting point for producing biomethane doesn’t have to be biogas, however. After a preliminary purification stage, gas from landfill and wastewater treatment plants can also be used to produce biomethane.
The biomethane so produced is the all-rounder among renewable energy sources, and can replace fossil fuel-based natural gas anywhere it is used. On the following pages, you can find out about the many uses for this valuable and renewable natural gas, and how it can play a part in an environmentally-friendly energy supply system.
Before biogas can be fed into the natural gas grid or used as a fuel, it must first be upgraded to natural gas quality. Our answer to the requirements of the future is therefore EnviThan – our integrated solution from organic waste to the filling station pump!
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From a macroeconomic and climate perspective, biomethane is now the most cost-effective, climate-friendly fuel for achieving progress towards climate targets and sustainable transport in Germany and the EU. This all-rounder is virtually carbon-neutral, storable and therefore continuously available – and so not only of interest to the transport sector.
In addition, the all-rounder can be used wherever fossil natural gas had been used previously to date: this includes CHP applications, demand-based power and heat generation, and use as an input material in the chemicals industry.
Biomethane is therefore an important building block for the energy transition.
The advantages of bio-LNG (liquefied natural gas) as a carbon-neutral fuel are obvious: in the transport sector alone, the use of biomethane allows a CO2 reduction of up to 97 percent compared to fossil fuels.
For this reason, we are tapping into a new field of the future as a plant manufacturer by constructing Germany's first integrated bio-LNG plant, which will both make heavy goods transport greener and also allow biogas plant operators to profit. This is because the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions required of the German fuel mix by the Renewable Energy Directive RED II means that green fuel production is being implemented ambitiously for the first time. As a result, those placing fuels on the market must now cut their GHG emissions by 25 percent by 2030 compared with 1990 levels.
Following the expiry of state subsidies for biogas plants, our all-round concept for gas treatment offers a sustainable solution for the profitable continued operation of existing plants through the sale of your biomethane or potentially its contract liquefaction into bio-LNG.
WHY WE MANAGE ENERGY?
Quite simply, because we have more than 20 years of expertise as a biogas plant manufacturer. For us, everything revolves around the renewable multi-energy biogas. That's why we not only use our extensive expertise to plan, build and maintain biogas and biogas upgrading plants, but naturally also help our customers to market the energy produced. Because when it comes to energy, it's like the butcher: we always answer the question "Can I have a little more?" in the affirmative! A little more green energy not only improves the CO2 balance, but of course also provides heat, electricity or even fuel for a climate-neutral transport sector.