The signs are green: Bio-LNG – the sustainable natural gas alternative as a fuel

Green LNG – the sustainable natural gas alternative and fuel solution

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been the talk of the town for many months. LNG tankers are to be used to import the liquefied natural gas to Germany and thus cover part of the national gas demand. Conventional, i.e. fossil, natural gas is used for liquefaction. Imported liquefied natural gas is filled into special storage tanks, regasified and distributed via the gas pipeline network. Alternatively, LNG can be transported to other locations and used there via various transportation routes – e.g. by ship, rail and tanker truck.

If biomethane is liquefied instead of fossil natural gas, bio-LNG is produced. Sustainable LNG alternatives are particularly in demand for heavy goods transport in order to reduce the emissions caused by the use of fossil fuels. Bio-LNG therefore makes a contribution to making the transport sector more environmentally friendly. When using bio-LNG in comparison to diesel, it is possible to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides by 90 percent and particulate matter by 99 percent. The use of biomethane and energy-efficient liquefaction processes significantly reduces the CO2 footprint of trucks. Depending on the feedstock used to produce the biomethane, CO2 emissions are reduced by 100 percent compared to diesel trucks.

Production of Bio-LNG

Bio-LNG is produced from biomethane. Biomethane is biogas that has been processed to natural gas quality. The biogas in turn is produced from renewable raw materials, farm manure such as dung or by fermenting organic waste.

The chemical properties of LNG and bio-LNG are comparable. The same technical processes can be used for liquefaction. The gas is cooled to around – 160 degrees Celsius in the liquefaction plants and changes from a gaseous to a liquid state. This process reduces the volume by a factor of 600 and therefore offers the optimum transportation options.

Natural gas or biomethane can be liquefied at locations close to gas pipelines. On the other hand, small-scale liquefaction plants can also be installed at biogas plant sites with biogas upgrading technology. The liquid bio-LNG is stored in storage tanks until it is collected.

Possible applications of Bio-LNG

Bio-LNG can be used in a variety of ways. On the one hand, it can be used for the supply and operation of decentralized CHP plants. On the other hand, the liquefied gas can also be used to supply process heat to industries. Its good transport properties make it possible to supply gas to locations that are not connected to the gas grid. LNG can also be used to cool foodstuffs. For this purpose, evaporative cooling is converted into usable cryogenic cooling down to -40 degrees Celsius. The main use of LNG is as a fuel for heavy-duty, long-distance and shipping traffic.

The LNG filling station network is currently being developed in Germany. There are currently around 150 LNG filling stations in operation across the country, mainly at highly frequented locations such as highways.

Why green LNG – what are the advantages?

• Bio-LNG offers users the significant advantage that the CO2 emissions from its use are significantly lower than those of fossil fuel. Bio-LNG users gain a competitive advantage and underline their contribution to greater sustainability in the transportation sector.
• On the producer side, the production of Bio-LNG offers new opportunities for operators of biogas plants to liquefy the raw biogas produced directly after it has been processed into biomethane. Bio-LNG production is therefore an alternative to feeding biomethane into the gas grid or a new option for energy marketing if converting the biogas into electricity is less economical. New sales potential is opening up for many operators of the around 9,700 biogas plants that were in operation at the end of 2021.
• New business areas are also crystallizing. Specialized companies are offering liquefaction services, giving biomethane producers the opportunity to produce and market bio-LNG. In the fuel market, bio-LNG from waste-derived biogas plants or NAWARO biogas plants that capture CO2 is definitely in demand.

Developments in green LNG

The proportion of LNG of fossil origin currently predominates. Current developments show that LNG production of renewable origin is gaining in importance and can be a building block of the sustainable transport transition.

For example, the mineral oil company Shell is building a bio-LNG plant in Cologne-Godorf Shell Energy and Chemicals Park. Initial work has already begun in February 2022. According to the company, up to 100,000 tons of a liquefied mixture of biomethane and natural gas with CO2-neutral properties will be produced annually from the second half of 2023. Once the plant has been completed, it is planned to supply all Shell LNG filling stations with the end product. It will then be possible to refuel up to 5,000 LNG trucks.

A joint venture between BALANCE Erneuerbare Energien and EnviTec Biogas is planning to build a liquefaction plant not far from Berlin. BALANCE EnviTec Bio-LNG GmbH plans to process biomethane produced in biogas plants into bio-LNG at this site. Production is scheduled to start in 2024. The end product will primarily be used in the mobility sector, making long-distance and heavy goods transport more environmentally friendly.

The potential offered by green LNG is manifold – it is therefore up to innovative players and the further development of the political framework to tap into this potential and utilize it for a sustainable future.

The authors are employed by greenValue GmbH. greenValue is a service company in the field of renewable energies with many years of experience and extensive references, including in the area of project management.

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14. november 2022, www.greenvalue.de