Enhancement of the anaerobic digestion process for biomethane production

For both WWU and HydroStar, there are large learnings to be taken from this project, with the list below summarising the key learnings;

1. Extensive knowledge of anaerobic digestion optimisation through hydrogen injection for increasing conversion of CO2 to CH4
2. Alternative methodologies to increase calorific value of biomethane without propane through increased efficiency of AD plants
3. Simulation models and small-scale demonstrator testing provide strong operational considerations for post project scaled hardware development, along with insights into the specific control mechanisms for the technology
4. Knowledge on impacts of optimized AD technology on Network flows and the benefits which can be achieved for Net Zero, both for GDNs and also for customers in their Net Zero planning
5. Potential locations across the network that optimised biomethane plants could be most beneficial for customers and decarbonisation
6. Consideration of the anaerobic digestion process within an integrated renewable energy system consisting of wider green hydrogen production and supply also
7. Techno economic models which enable understanding of contributing external factors for the operation of the system

From HydroStar’s perspective, this project represents the development of a new business offering, which can be used within the wider energy sector and sophisticated vector management applications. This will help to facilitate not only the optimisation of biomethane production, but also developing use cases for green hydrogen to stimulate early uptake and investment in green hydrogen production before widescale blending is possible.

From the perspective of WWU as a gas network operator, there are a number of learnings which pertain to all gas network operators and can advance the sector as a whole. The project will help to develop the ability of gas networks to provide a more resilient supplies of biomethane across the network, and enable strategies to decarbonise entire sectors of the network if applicable.