Advanced Gaseous Biomethane

In Ireland, approximately 40% of total energy consumption is associated with transport (mainly fueled by petrol and diesel); this has contributed to significant greenhouse gas emissions and impacted negatively on urban air quality. Compared to electricity and heat, transport is the least decarbonized sector in Ireland. Ireland has a target to achieve 10% renewable transport by 2020, but the technological strategy is not certain as yet. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a viable technology to produce biogas (60% biomethane and 40% carbon dioxide), whilst treating wastes and residues; In an Irish context grass silage is an excellent source of biogas. Integrating power to gas (P2G) with AD offers an innovative means to upgrade biogas to green gas (97% biomethane), whilst supporting intermittent renewable electricity and producing advanced renewable transport fuel. This proposal will evaluate a future integrated bioenergy system, including the concepts of cascading bioenergy and circular bioeconomy. The system will produce advanced gaseous transport biomethane from a wide array of second and third generation biomass (such as grass silage, food waste, and seaweed).

This project aims to achieve (1) systems integration and optimization for biogas production and upgrading to green gas, and (2) sustainability validation of green gas production

WP1: Interspecies electron transfer in anaerobic digestion

WP2: Biological methanation

WP3: Pyrochar in a circular bioenergy system

WP4: Sustainability of advanced biomethane production

WP5: Communication and Dissemination

WP6: Project management

Dr Richen Lin – ei.ccu@nil.nehcir