Since 2018, the German Biomass Research Center (DBFZ) has been researching methods to transform previously unusable biogenic leftovers, by-products, and garbage into renewable methane as a transportation fuel using hydrogen.
The Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) has approved the building of a pilot plant on the grounds of the DBFZ in Leipzig as part of the model project “Pilot-SBG – Bioresources and hydrogen to methane as fuel.”
The goal is to measure, evaluate, and optimize the whole process chain in the pilot plant, from the raw material to the renewable methane and other by-products via anaerobic fermentation of chosen residual and waste materials.
The inclusion of hydrogen in the methanation process boosts the overall methane production substantially. “At this time, we’re estimating a monthly raw material intake of up to 1.2 tons and an output of up to 80 standard cubic meters of renewable methane.” The system’s aims are to be employed in a later tank system as renewable CNG in the DBFZ fleet,” explains project manager Karin Naumann.
The plant will be offered as a technological platform for research and development in science and industry after the operational campaigns, which are scheduled to begin in 2023. It is built in such a manner that various technological modules may be used in a variety of ways. It can also be utilized for these objectives to a limited extent during the pilot SBG project.
