Hydrogen in the biogas sector: For a net-zero energy system
KEY POINTS- Integration of hydrogen in the biogas system provides further opportunity for CCUS and electricity system flexibility
- Hydrogen can increase methane yield through CO2 methanation
- Carbon-negative hydrogen can be produced from biogas with CDR
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Global goals
- 7. Affordable and clean energy
- 13. Climate action
Short summary
This project addresses the role of hydrogen in the biogas system using techno-economic and climate impact assessment. Hydrogen pathways include methanation of electrolytic hydrogen and biogenic CO2, and production of biohydrogen and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from biomethane.
Biogas is a renewable energy carrier produced from anaerobic digestion of organic matter, consisting primarily of 50-70 % methane (CH4) and 30-50 % carbon dioxide (CO2 %). The biomethane fraction can be utilised within existing methane infrastructure, e.g. gas vehicles, while the biogenic CO2 is increasingly considered a valuable resource for utilisation or storage that can further improve economic and climate benefits.
One possibility for CO2 utilisation is methanation, where CO2 reacts with hydrogen to form additional methane. If the hydrogen is produced using electrolysis, low-carbon electricity can be used to generate a potentially carbon-neutral fuel. This process, also known as power-to-methane (PtM), can simplify the integration of hydrogen into current energy infrastructure, while the electrolyser can provide new opportunities for biogas plants to act as flexible electricity consumers.
As an alternative, biogas can be used to produce hydrogen through both established and emerging technologies, such as steam methane reforming (SMR) and methane pyrolysis. In these processes, additional biogenic carbon is generated, which can provide further utilisation or storage potential. However, this conversion increases technical complexity and cost, and trade-offs between energy efficiency, carbon utilisation, and infrastructure compatibility must be evaluated.
The aim of this project is to model integrated hydrogen and biogas systems based on methanation and biohydrogen respectively, and assess their techno-economic performance and climate impact. Particular focus is placed on the influence of electricity and carbon, which affect the feasibility of different pathways.