Efficient biogas upgrading and biomethane grid injection Conference Biogas zur Gewinnung von Biomethan 26 th September 2017, Verona/Italy [Fraunhofer IWES Beil] Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Michael Beil Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy Systems Technology Division Energy Process Engineering Department Bioenergy System Technology Gas Upgrading, Injection and Grids
Efficient biogas upgrading and biomethane grid injection Conference Biogas zur Gewinnung von Biomethan 26 th September 2017, Verona/Italy [Fraunhofer IWES] [Fraunhofer IWES] IWES] Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Michael Beil Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy Systems Technology Bioenergy System Technology
Content Introduction The incentive system and market implementation of biomethane in Germany Efficient micro biogas upgrading plants Project background and approach Biomethane grid injection Energy demand upgrading and post compression Economic aspects Recommendations [Fraunhofer IWES Beil]
What we are doing in the field of biomethane Research and development along the whole value chain of biomethane from well to wheel. Project examples: Monitoring of the biomethane production process Efficient micro biogas upgrading plants Monitoring of the renewable energy act for biomass amongst others also biomethane PtG: Direct methanation of raw biogas
The incentive system and market implementation of biomethane in Germany
Biomethane value chains (in Germany) [dena]
Biomethane incentive system in Germany FIT for electricity from biomethane Tax exemption; biofuel quota trade Incentives scheme (amongst others): Investment cost share between connectee and grid operator Covering of operational costs by grid operator Fee for avoided grid costs paid by grid operator to connectee [IWES after dena]
Triangle of sustainable biomethane implementation Limitation of GHG-emissions Limitation of emissions for toxic gas compounds As long as biomethane is not competitive to natural gas, incentives are neededto ensure an economic feasibility Additional costs of biomethane have to be accepted by society & policy
Number and upgrading capacity of biogas upgrading plants in Germany in the period 2006-2016
Biogas upgrading - Technology overview 5 methods state of the art Adsorption Absorption Permeation Cryogenic upgrading Pressure swing adsorption Physical absorption (inorganic solvents) Water scrubber High pressure membrane separation Physical absorption (organic solvents) Genosorb scrubber Low pressure membrane separation Chemical absorption (inorganic solvents) Chemical absorption (organic solvents) Amine scrubber
Number of biogas upgrading plants in Germany in the period 2006-2016
emikrobgaa Efficient micro biogas upgrading plants
Project background - approach
emikrobgaa Efficient micro biogas upgrading plants (effiziente Mikro-Biogasaufbereitungsanlagen) Project example [IWES] [IWES] [IWES]
Background: German system for biogas upgrading and grid injection waste sewage sludge agri. substrates Gas grid electricity I CHP heat fuel feedstock biogas production upgrading grid injection material use utilization paths High costs for biomethane injection in Germany: In average ca. 2-3 Cent/kWh By now not recognized (by policy and society) because of allocation mechanism at least not noticeably discussed Problem: Too low (economic) incentives to reduce full costs of biomethane grid injection Potentially wrong incentives due to allocation mechanism The German Gras Grid Access ordinance (GasNZV) has successfully decreased obstacles for grid injection but caused in parallel (unwanted) increased costs for grid injection.
Project system boundaries: costs Evaluation of full cost optimized variations: upgrading - grid inj. - grid waste electricity I CHP sewage sludge Gas grid heat agri. substrates fuel material use feedstock biogas production (+) upgrading + grid injection utilization paths Objective 1: Under which framework conditions will upgrading and grid-injection of comparatively small biogas amounts - especially by repowering of already existing biogas plants using CHP with low heat utilization factors - from an economic perspective (regarding full costs of upgrading and grid-injection) make sense?
Project system boundaries: potentials Evaluation of biogas- und natural gas grid potentials for identified full cost optimized injection variations waste sewage sludge agri. substrates Gas grid electricity I CHP heat fuel material use feedstock biogas production upgrading grid utilization paths Objective 2: What will be the potential of sites with this constellation in Germany?
Biogas upgrading plants in Germany: Cumulative frequency of installed plant capacities (m³/h biogas) Typical capacities of CHP plants Upgrading capacity (rawgas) [m n ³/h]
Biomethane grid injection
Biomethane grid injection (station): Tasks to fulfill Measurement gas constitution Connection (pipeto the grid) Measurement gas flow Grid injection Compression (pressure adaption) Odorization Conditioning (adaption Hs & Ws by e.g. addition of LPG)
Biomethane grid injection station [Fraunhofer IWES Beil] [Fraunhofer IWES Beil]
Energy demand upgrading and post compression
Electricity demands biogas upgrading (examples) Related to Malmberg, Carbotech, MT/HZI, Envitec, Haase
Energy demands selected biogas upgrading methods Related to: 1.15 bar 2 bar 5.5 bar 15 bar Related to small plant capacities
Electricity demands selected biogas upgrading methods and post compression to natural gas grid pressure Related to: 1.15 bar 2 bar 5.5 bar 15 bar Related to small plant capacities under defined framework conditions such as: Assumption 100 % methane in biomethane, compressor efficiency 63 %, simplifications: single-stage approach, additional energy demand for heat decoupling not respected, static polytropic exponent.
Economic aspects
Electricity costs for biogas upgrading and post compression to natural gas grid pressure (selected biogas upgrading methods) Related to: 1.15 bar 2 bar 5.5 bar 15 bar Based on 16 ct/kwh el
Electricity costs only for post compression to natural gas grid pressure (selected biogas upgrading methods) Related to: 1.15 bar 2 bar 5.5 bar 15 bar Based on 16 ct/kwh el
Grid injection: investment costs 16 bar 0.1 bar Incl.: PGC, humidity measurement, conditioning incl. measurement, 10 t LPG-tank, odorization, building/container Excl.: Pipeline to natural gas grid
Specific biogas upgrading costs for Italy (related to 2016) Fraunhofer IWES, 2016
Recommendations
Biogas upgrading Which technology should be selected? Technology open! there is no best upgrading technology in general First define your project!: Raw gas quantity ( today and tomorrow ) Raw gas composition main compounds (CH 4, CO 2, N 2, O 2 ) Raw gas composition trace compounds (NH 3, organic silicon compounds; cocktail) Product gas requirements (pressure, standards, ) Process energy availability and costs Experience of own staff Site visits Talk to operators Get objective practical information about experiences made [Fraunhofer IWES Beil] [Fraunhofer IWES Beil] [Fraunhofer IWES Beil]
Biogas upgrading Which technology should be selected? Define your evaluation criteria Investment costs are only one part of specific biomethane provision costs Costs of full service contracts Methane loss resp. methane yield (what are your raw gas costs?) Plant availability Required space, height, References (experience of manufacturer) Service (availability, quality, ) Call for tenders Evaluation [Fraunhofer IWES Beil] [Fraunhofer IWES Beil] Decision
...questions? Thank you... [Copyright: Schmack Biogas AG]
Contacts Michael Beil Fraunhofer IWES Department Bioenergy System Technology Gas Upgrading, Injection and Grids Königstor 59 34119 Kassel/Germany +49 (0) 561 7294-421 michael.beil@iwes.fraunhofer.de [Fraunhofer IWES Beil]
Specific upgrading costs assumptions and framework conditions for calculation Place of delivery: Italy Costs are related to 2016 (no average costs over lifetime) Considered technologies: PSA, Water Scrubber, Membrane Product gas pressures vary: 5 bar (PSA, water scrubber) 14 bar (membrane) Investment and maintenance (as full maintenance contract) costs based on price indications of current plant generations of 3 technology providers Costs for planning, permission and further construction costs: 10 % related to investment costs Interest rate: 5 % Operating time: 15 years Costs for insurance: 0.5 % related to investment costs Plant availability: 96 % (8410 h/a) Specific energy consumptions (related to 55 % and 65 % methane concentrations in the raw gas flow) and methane recovery rates are based on warranty values Costs for process energy: 0.15 /kwh el Personal costs: included Precision desulfurization (if required): H 2 S reduction by 100 ppm, 5 per m n ³ raw gas upgrading capacity and year (includes costs for activated carbon, costs for disposal of loaded coal as hazardous waste and carrying costs)