ECOTEC has initiated a new collaboration with the Spanish Center for the Development of Industrial Technology (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico - CDTI), to carry out an R&D project focused on the valorization of CO2 obtained from biogas upgrading processes, aiming to transform it into CH4 through a biomethanation procedure. For this purpose, it has the scientific collaboration of IREC (Catalonia Institute for Energy Research Foundation).
This approach seeks to increase methane (CH4) production by combining, through biological procedures, the CO2 resulting from the biogas valorization process with green hydrogen (H2) produced from renewable energies, aiming to achieve greater efficiency in biomethane generation and its injection into the natural gas grid.
The process begins with the production of biogas, mainly composed of methane and carbon dioxide, from the anaerobic digestion of organic waste. To upgrade the biogas to biomethane, CO2 is separated using membrane technology, thus achieving CH4 purification, a process known as "biogas upgrading."
The purpose of this initiative is to utilize residual CO2 and valorize it in a biological reactor where its combination with green hydrogen from a Power-to-X (PtX) process allows its transformation into methane (CH4), improving biomethane production efficiency, energy efficiency, and consequently reducing CO2 emissions.
This collaboration is set within a context where reducing CO2 emissions and improving biomethane quality are key priorities in the renewable energy sector.
The implementation of this biomethanation process could represent a significant advance in the industry, providing a more efficient solution for biogas upgrading and contributing to the circular economy and decarbonization of the energy sector, positioning ECOTEC at the forefront of sustainable solutions in the renewable gas sector.