Topic

The aim of the planned study is a holistic analysis of potential plant concepts for the combination of biogas and Power-to-Gas plants, including a technical and economic evaluation. In particular, the technical feasibility as well as the operation of the specific plant combinations and the resulting investment, operating, and gas production costs will be examined.

A further focus is the analysis and development of potential business models for regenerative gases (SNG and biomethane). For this purpose, the costs of gas supply resulting from the various concepts including the utilisation routes are taken into account. In addition, the market requirements and volumes for different sales channels as well as customer preferences, revenues and possible marketing strategies are analyzed. Moreover, potential barriers and the regulatory framework are evaluated.

Aims

The basics for a technically and energy-efficient integration of PtG technology into the operation of BGA are to be developed. The following specific questions shall be answered by the project:

• Which technical concepts are most suitable for the various existing BGA for a combination with PtG plants from a technical, economic and climate protection (GHG emission reduction) point of view?
• How great is the potential for the respective suitable concept variations in Germany?
• What production costs can be achieved for the renewable gases (gas from the PtG plant (Substitute Natural Gas = SNG) and biomethane) in the post-EEG case, taking into account all technical components and necessary educt costs (H₂ and CO₂) and taking into account the utilisation paths?
• At what prices can the renewable gases be marketed (including consumers' willingness to pay) in order to achieve a business model for BGA and in what time horizon would this be feasible?
• How can the renewable gases be successfully marketed to households and companies (based, among other things, on preferences for the various product options and product attributes)?

Measures

Fraunhofer-Institut für Energiewirtschaft und Energiesystemtechnik (IEE)

• Differentiation and evaluation of possible BGA-PtG concepts 
• Profitability calculation and determination of SNG gas production costs (including supply routes) 
• Creation of the simulation model and simulation of the plant concepts
• Analysis and development of potential business models

Prüf- und Forschungsinstitut Pirmasens e.V. (PFI)

• Development of the input for biological methanisation
• Representation of the different BGA, including their differentiation by size, substrate (NawaRos or waste and residual materials)
• Analysis and development of potential business models

Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen-Geislingen (HfWU)

• Development of customer preferences, willingness to pay and possible marketing strategies for regenerative gases
• Analysis and development of potential business models

Focus

Fraunhofer-Institut für Energiewirtschaft und Energiesystemtechnik (IEE)

• Catalytic methanation
• Biogas treatment
• Modelling and simulation
• Profitability calculation

Prüf- und Forschungsinstitut Pirmasens e.V. (PFI)

• Biological methanation
• Biogas plants

Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen-Geislingen (HfWU)

• Customer preferences, willingness to pay and marketing strategies