In HYFUELUP, we have been working to achieve our overall main objective of demonstrating a new pathway for biomethane production. We have approached this in a multidisciplinary way (from feedstock supply chain to technology development and final biomethane off-take), to make real progress and maximize the impact for the renewable gas value chain.
Here is what what we did along the way and learned so far.
-- We started exploring the potential of european feedstocks --
The logistics and supply chain team for feedstocks (WP2) has finished the initial research phase, identifying suitable feedstocks for gasification and their locations across Europe. We've analyzed data from consortium countries, focusing on lignocellulosic feedstocks from waste streams (like cereal residues, prunings, and waste from forests and furniture) and dedicated crops (such as grasses, annual crops, and short rotation forestry), detailing biomass quantities, availability, harvesting/logistics, and market prices when available. This information has led to the creation of a comprehensive database, which is now accessible to all partners, assisting in the selection of suitable raw materials for the project, including detailed feedstock characterisation.
-- We started exploring the potential of core technologies for biomethane delivery --
The primary technical team (WP3, WP4, and WP5) has provided significant technical insights. We assessed the properties of real dried digestate sludge and forestry biomass waste in electrically heated BFB gasifiers to support the SEG/Oxy-SEG demonstration effectively and deepened our understanding of these feedstocks' behaviour during gasification. This includes the impact of syngas cleaning and conditioning on the gaseous compounds and impurities in syngas. We also conducted scaled-up experimental campaigns in a dual fluidized bed facility, mirroring an industrial system (WP3). We gathered performance data for the design of the scaled-up methanation reactor using typical gasification gas and biogas, with and without hydrogen addition and tested a broad range of operational conditions for different feed gas mixtures. The plant capacity was well within the design capacity for the demonstration plant, confirming that the selected technology is well-suited for the HYFUELUP project (WP4). We completed the pre-engineering phase and established the design basis for the refurbishment and construction of the demonstration plant. We also used the available design data and the defined project requirements to progress with the detailed layout for the syngas fluidized bed methanation prototype and the procurement of a suitable SOEC solution to produce hydrogen, which will be supplied to the adaptable methanation unit to achieve optimal biomethane production.
-- We started exploring the implications of the concept in terms of sustainability. --
The sustainability impact assessment team has conducted an initial evaluation of the project implementation regarding the exploitation of results. We reviewed the literature on techno-economic and life cycle assessment studies for biomethane production technologies and developed preliminary work on TEA and LCA for the HYFUELUP concepts based on process simulation data provided during the pre-engineering phase. We also defined the methodology for assessing the social and socio-economic impacts of HYFUELUP.
