Towards a sustainable future

Transcription

1 Gas Transmission Europe Towards a sustainable future for the gas transmission networks June 2014

2 Towards a sustainable future for the gas transmission networks What is GTE? Gas Transmission Europe (GTE) represents 30 member companies from 25 countries, gathering Transmission System Operators (TSOs) across Europe. GTE is committed to actively contribute to the design and implementation of a transparent, secure, sustainable and competitive gas market in Europe underpinned by a stable and predictable regulatory framework as well as by a sound investment climate. Sustainable future The EU s energy policy lies on three pillars; Security of Supply, Competitiveness and Sustainability. Given the importance of the latter in order, it is important that the EU develops and supports new technologies which are more environmentally friendly. Gas Transmission Europe In this regards, GTE is to become pro-active partner in the way toward a sustainable future for Transmission Networks, covering and analysing topics like renewable sources of gas, efficiency and gas for mobility and shedding light on market opportunities, observing initiatives that support relevant new technologies and be an active partner in discussions in the energy community. For the time being, GTE has so far decided to focus on two topics biomethane and power-to-gas. By holding workshops with participation from TSOs, stakeholders and representatives from the European Commission, GTE has enhanced dialogue within the community working with technologies that are essential for a sustainable future for the gas transmission networks. The Commission s representatives have been very interested in the dialogue with the TSOs, and it has been clear that the group contributes to filling an information gap.

3 Gas Transmission Europe Biomethane Biogas has been produced for many years and from biomethane in order to meet the quality standards of the many different sources. The most common are landfill natural gas grids thus making its injection into the gas gas and biogas produced from agricultural waste or grid possible and being compatible with the transmission sewage sludge. In many cases biogas is used locally for of natural gas. heat or electricity production. Biogas mainly consists of In order to inject biomethane into the gas grids, it is methane and CO2. By removing the CO2 and cleaning necessary to compress it so it matches the grid pressure. the impurities of the gas, biogas can be upgraded to Biogas Upgrading Biomethane Injection CH4 CO2 H 2O H2 S Other* CO2removal Cleaning CH4 > 97,3% CO2 > 2½-3% Other** Measuring Compression*** Injection To 4-80 bar**** CO2 H2S H2O * Trace particles, O2, etc. ** According to the gas regulative *** Additional compression not always necessary **** Depending on grid Image courtesy of Göteborg Energi - GoBiGas plant in Sweden

4 Towards a sustainable future for the gas transmission networks Injection into the gas grid can be done as long as the quality specifications are met and biomethane does not compromise either the security of the grid or the security of the end-consumer. Relative density (-) Upg rad 0.75 ing Wobbe index (kwh/nm ) Pure biogas (65% methane) Upgraded biogas (98% methane) Upgrading CO2removal Biomethane Cleaning CH4 > 97,3% CO2 > 2½-3% Other** Expected gas from Germany Danish North Sea gas Injection Measuring Compression*** Injection * To 4-80 bar**** CO2 H2S H2O e particles, O2, etc. ording to the gas regulative ditional compression not always necessary Enagás - Vadelmingomez biogas production plant, Spain epending on grid Russian gas Requirement in the Rules for Gas Transport

5 Gas Transmission Europe EU Member States are making progress in the development of biomethane plants. Currently there are approximately 250 biomethane upgrading plants in the EU, some of these deliver the biomethane to the gas networks and others deliver it directly to transport sector. The sum of the biogas processed on these plants exceed Nm 3 /h. More than 70 of these plants have been installed since Germany is the country with the largest amount of biomethane plants, followed by Sweden. Germany 144 Sweden 55 The Netherlands 21 Austria 12 United Kingdom 6 France 5 Finland 5 Luxembourg 3 Spain 1 Hungary 1 Denmark 1 Total 254 Source : IEA / November 2013 Image courtesy of Energinet.dk - Linkogas biogas plant 2, Denmark

6 Towards a sustainable future for the gas transmission networks Power-to-gas The term power-to-gas (or P2G ) describes the process of converting surplus electrical power generated from renewable sources such as wind and solar into combustible gases (hydrogen or methane) which are then fed into the natural gas infrastructure. The technology allows us to store electrical energy in quantities which direct electricity storage will not be able to achieve for a long time. The first process step is the same for both P2G concepts: electrolysis is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then either fed directly into the natural gas grid or converted into methane in a subsequent process step. Both concepts offer different advantages. The rapid growth in development of the new P2G demonstration projects has been noted recently by the North Sea Power to Gas Platform. At the end of 2013 a total of 39 power-to-gas installations, of which twenty eight electrolysis and eleven combined electrolysis plus methanation installations, with a total capacity of 24 MW were in operation or under construction in Europe. 1 Germany is by far the most active country, followed by Denmark and France. 2 Hydrogen captured in the electrolysis process can in principal be utilized in three different manners as energy gas: It can be stored and/or transported separately to be used directly as a fuel for transport or green electricity production (Gas-to-Power); It can directly be injected and mixed into the natural gas grids to be used as transport fuel (CNG), for heating, for the production of electricity or for industrial processes. The injection of hydrogen in the grids lowers the carbon intensity of the natural gas. Hydrogen also impacts the heating value, Wobbe index and methane number of the gas mix. The local restrictions on the gas quality limits the hydrogen percentage that can be injected into the gas grid; Following advantages of power-to-gas should be widely promoted: Storage and transport of excess of renewable energy; Avoid curtailment costs for renewable energy and start/stop cost for other power plants; Avoid extra investments in reinforcing electricity grids by using available natural gas grids; Decarbonization of natural gas / production of green methane; Production of green hydrogen; Etc. Since several pilot Power-to-Gas plants are already in operation, there is a need for further research and development to evaluate the three methods of utilizing hydrogen as an energy gas and to reduce costs. There is a need for further research and development regarding all methods of utilizing hydrogen as an energy gas and thus promoting power-to-gas. Both biomethane and power-to-gas are examples of the possibilities for greening the gas grid and of the gas grid s potential for contributing to integration of renewable energy. Through power-to-gas fluctuating renewable energy like wind and solar power can be stored in large amounts until the energy is needed. Finally it can be recombined with CO 2 in methanation process, to produce synthetic methane that can be directly injected into the natural gas grids without any limitations. As the CO 2 is re-employed from another source, the synthetic methane is green. 1 2 L. Grond of DNV GL. Global screening of projects and technologies for Power-to-Gas and Bio-SNG, DGC 2013.

7 Gas Transmission Europe Power-to-gas - Different options CHP H 2 H2 H 2 3 Local storage 2 Electrolysis H 2 1 H 2 Biogas plant Methanation Chemical CO 2 Biological CH 4 Gas grid Brewery

8 Gas Infrastructure Europe avenue de Cortenbergh Brussels T F gie@gie.eu Images courtesy of STOGIT, GAZ-SYSTEM, RWE Gasspeicher Gas Transmission Europe s Gas Storage Europe n Gas LNG Europe