The demonstration setup (TRL 5) will be installed at the premises of the ELGO-DIMITRA campus, Thermi, Greece. It will involve the pilot demonstration of the turn-key technology for biomethane production by biological CO2 hydrogenation. Taking advance of the surplus off-peak electricity, renewable hydrogen will be produced electrolytically. The latter will be coupled with carbon dioxide derived from an already existing pilot scale biogas digester (working volume 1m3).
FP2 Thessaloniki GR
Functional Prototype 2 (FP2): Biological CO2 hydrogenation for biomethane production
- PLACE Thessaloniki, Greece
- RESPONSIBLE ELGO
- PARTNERS DTU, UNIPD
- PRODUCTION LINE Anaerobic digestion
- BIOGENIC GAS CO2
- END-PRODUCT Biomethane
- CAPACITY 330 L/day
- TECHNOLOGIES Biological CO2 hydrogenation
The biomethanation process will take place at a novel pilot trickling filter reactor (TBR) (72 L working volume). Initially, thermophilic hydrogenotrophic inoculum will be prepared in a separate anaerobic digester (50 L) fed only with synthetic H2/CO2 mixture. The obtained hydrogenotrophic mixed culture will be subsequently placed to the sump tank of the TBR to initiate recirculation of the trickling media and enable biofilm formation on the packing material. During the operational period, biogas from the biogas digester and H2 from water electrolysis will be constantly injected into pilot TBR to upgrade biogas and obtain high grade biomethane (>95% methane content). Upon steady process performance, the integrated system will operate continuously for a period of at least 6 months, during which, it is expected to capture and convert more than 60 m3 biogenic CO2 gas and transform it into biomethane.