Past, Present and Near Future: An Overview of Closed, Running and Planned Biomethanation Facilities in Europe

Máté Zavarkó, Attila R. Imre, Gábor Pörzse and Zoltán Csedő
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Máté Zavarkó: Department of Management and Organization, Corvinus University of Budapest, 1093 Budapest, Hungary
Attila R. Imre: Department of Energy, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
Gábor Pörzse: Corvinus Innovation Research Center, Corvinus University of Budapest, 1093 Budapest, Hungary
Zoltán Csedő: Department of Management and Organization, Corvinus University of Budapest, 1093 Budapest, Hungary

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-27

Abstract: The power-to-methane technology is promising for long-term, high-capacity energy storage. Currently, there are two different industrial-scale methanation methods: the chemical one (based on the Sabatier reaction) and the biological one (using microorganisms for the conversion). The second method can be used not only to methanize the mixture of pure hydrogen and carbon dioxide but also to methanize the hydrogen and carbon dioxide content of low-quality gases, such as biogas or deponia gas, enriching them to natural gas quality; therefore, the applicability of biomethanation is very wide. In this paper, we present an overview of the existing and planned industrial-scale biomethanation facilities in Europe, as well as review the facilities closed in recent years after successful operation in the light of the scientific and socioeconomic context. To outline key directions for further developments, this paper interconnects biomethanation projects with the competitiveness of the energy sector in Europe for the first time in the literature. The results show that future projects should have an integrative view of electrolysis and biomethanation, as well as hydrogen storage and utilization with carbon capture and utilization (HSU&CCU) to increase sectoral competitiveness by enhanced decarbonization.

Keywords: biomethanation; power-to-methane; competitiveness; hydrogen utilization; decarbonization; Hungary (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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