Adding gas from biomass to the gas grid - SGC

7.2.4 FranceThere are currently no examples of introduction of upgraded biogas to the natural gas grid. Theupgrading plants in France are shown in table 52.LocationFeedstock andtechnologyCapacitym3/hStatusChambéry Sewage sludge:30 Not in operationWater scrubbinganymoreLilleSewage sludge:100 In operation sinceWater scrubbing1995ToursLandfill gas:200 In operation sinceWater scrubbing1994Montech Landfill gas 500 Established in 1998.Not in operation *)Utilisation of upgradedgasVehicle fuelVehicle fuel (buses)Vehicle fuelInjection in natural gasgrid*): The French authorities have not authorised injection because of possible contamination (VOC).Table 52: Upgrading of biogas in France [lit.13,54]7.2.5 GermanyThe history of biogas technology in Germany started with production of biogas in sewage treatmentplants. From the middle of the 1930’s to the middle of the 1960’s biogas in many large sewagetreatment plants was upgraded and used as ‘bio-natural gas’ as fuel in car engines. Peakproduction of upgraded biogas for fuel and injection into the natural gas pipeline grid was reachedduring the second world war and after 1950. Under those conditions, a high viability for upgradedbiogas was achieved. Important water associations were Emschergenossenschaft, Ruhrverband,Wupperverband, Niersverband [lit.61,62]. The Niersverband, for example, produced up to 6.7 millionm 3 biogas per year up to 1955 for vehicle fuel and as CNG in cylinders sold to households.After a break of about 20 years, two sewage treatment plants constructed upgrading plants/gasseparation plants for feeding the upgraded biogas into the respective natural gas grid. In Stuttgart-Muhlhausen, biogas was upgraded to H-gas, in Viersen to L-gas. "One of the upgradingrequirements was that many consumers got access to the biogas energy. Thus it was ensured thaton an annual average an even and high share of the excess gas could be recovered“ [lit.63].In the central sewage plant at Stuttgart-Muhlhausen a EU demonstration project on energy savingand alternative energy sources was conducted. It was the first upgrading plant in the world usingMEA (Monoethanolamine) for absorption of CO 2 and H 2 S. The capacity was 500 m 3 crude biogasper hour, investment was 0.77 M€, amortisation about 10 years. The gas was sold for 0.21 €/m 3 .This plant successfully operated from 1984 to the end of 1999.page: 92