SEMPRE-BIO - SECURING DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF COST-EFFECTIVE BIOMETHANE

• This is Daniel-Gromke Jaqueline Jaqueline's (DBFZ), Velina Denysenko's (DBFZ), and Katja Oehmichen'sEBIONews.

Within the scope of the ongoing scientific SEMPRE-BIO PROJECT targeting to demonstrate novel and cost-effective biomethane production solutions and pathways which maximise the carbon utilisation in the feedstock, 5 innovative biomethane production technologies will be demonstrated through 3 case studies with biogenic CO2 valorisation at different process stages in:

1. Baix Llobregat in Spain (combining proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEM) and CO2 bio-methanation at the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP));
2. Bourges in France (combining thermo-chemical pyrolysis process and bio-methanation);
3. Adinkerke in Belgium (production of bio-LNG and liquified CO2 (LCO2) by cryogenic process, followed by the production of value-added products from LCO2 and H2 such as biopolymers, biochemicals, and alternative protein sources.

The SEMPRE-BIO project involves experts from 17 organisations and 6 European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, and Spain). Overall, the challenge is to decrease investment and operational costs, optimise feedstock supply and use, identify alternative and cheaper feedstocks, improve plant efficiency and operations, factor in the carbon savings and increase and monetise co-benefits, from the commercialisation of side-products such as the digestate or the valorisation of residual gas streams.

The SEMPRE-BIO project recently concluded its 4th General Assembly, held over two days from November 21 to 22 at the DTU headquarters in Lyngby/Copenhagen, Denmark. The partners discussed the project results achieved, and future work steps and enjoyed networking with each other.

In the context of the SEMPRE-BIO project, DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige GmbH is responsible for the overall analysis and the market uptake including techno-economic as well as ecologic assessment by the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions balances of conventional and selected innovative biomethane processes as well as the analysis of legal framework and policy recommendations.

As a first result, DBFZ was in charge of the evaluation of the status quo and future challenges of biogenic CO2 valorisation derived from biogas and biomethane in Europe focusing on commercial-scale CCU projects. Valorisation of biogenic CO2 derived from biomethane represents a dynamic and steadily growing segment in Europe. Already today, the utilisation of the entire biomethane process chain including biogenic CO2 for material and/or energy recovery results in ecological and cost benefits. Concerning the number of plant sites with CO2 valorisation from biomethane, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom are leading the way in biogenic CO2 valorisation from biomethane facilities in Europe (60 % in total), followed by Germany and France (23 % in total). For the valorisation of CO2 from the operating biomethane plants, the focus is currently on the air enrichment in greenhouses (35 %), food and beverage industry (27 %), PtX technologies (10 %), production of dry ice or as a cooling agent (both 8 %).

The results are summarised within the report on CO2 utilization. The interactive map depicting the operating European biomethane plants with CO2 valorisation should be further updated towards the end of the project lifetime.

Moreover, the results consider the reports on Joint Policy Recommendations compiled under the involvement of project participants from 3 further under Horizon Europe-funded, ongoing biomethane projects BIOMETHAVERSE, HYFUELUP project and METHAREN . The 1st joint report was coordinated by DBFZ and highlights country-specific barriers and perspectives determined based on the survey results from the involved project partners. To increase biomethane production in the short resp. medium term, in particular, legal and administrative barriers must be reduced. It is important to continue to adjust the political and economic framework to facilitate trade between different countries and to create more purchase opportunities for biomethane. The report can be found here.

The research project SEMPRE-BIO (SEcuring domestic PRoduction of cost-Effective BIOmethane) is funded under the EU call HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-03 (Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply) and topic HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-03-16 under the grant agreement No. 101084297.

Contact at DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige GmbH (Germany)

• Jaqueline Daniel Gromke , Working group leader - “System optimisation”: [email protected]
• Velina Denysenko, Research fellow - “System optimisation”: [email protected]
• Katja Oehmichen, research fellow – “Applied sustainability assessment”: [email protected]

For more information on SEMPRE-BIO, please visit https://sempre-bio.com

Follow the SEMPRE-BIO project on:

• Linkedin: https://www.dhirubhai.net/company/sempre-bio-project/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/semprebioproject

?? To read the whole Newsletter: https://www.eera-bioenergy.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/eebionews_22_autumn_winter2024.pdf.pdf

??? To subscribe to #EEBIONews: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQ7WoDDTztrH4nKaAH8A7q-LmIDv_aQL19bHjLI9JqAimzcQ/viewform?c=0&w=1&pli=1

?? EERA Bioenergy JP website: https://www.eera-bioenergy.eu/