BioLNG: A Renewable Choice With All the Benefits Of LNG

BioLNG could provide a sustainable way to generate power. Since LNG is a fossil fuel, there is a certain amount of concern that it will not be enough to combat climate change. However, its renewable twin bioLNG, that shares the same chemical formula as LNG, can be produced in a carbon-neutral way by capturing the CO2 emissions during production. The process itself includes upgrading biogas, generated from organic waste streams, without the need to blend it with fossil fuels, significant investments or large infrastructure.

Due to its environmental benefits, the development of the biofuel business seems to be on the uptick. Recently, Shell Ventures invested in Nordsol, a bioLNG production and technology company. This strategic partnership will help the company bring bioLNG into the forefront as a clean, widely available and affordable biofuel. Most importantly, Shell along with future partners will facilitate the expansion of Nordsol’s business to build, own, operate and maintain bioLNG plants with the aim to create a network of such facilities in Europe.

These companies belong to BioLNG EuroNet project as well that also includes DISA, Scania, IVECO to further promote LNG as road transport and construct a bioLNG production plant in the Netherlands. This facility is expected to produce 3000 MT/year of the eco-friendly gas to be sold via the LNG network. This seamless blending with the existing LNG infrastructure will help spread the use of bioLNG to reduce CO2 emissions by over 90%.

Other such plants are already cropping up in Europe. Most recently, the Finnish technology group Wärtsilä got the go-ahead for a bioLNG plant to be built in Norway, set to become operational in 2020. It will be integrated with the existing VEAS biogas plant for biogas upgrading and liquefaction with a total capacity of 20 tons per day.

It follows the opening of the world’s largest such plant at the Norske Skog Skogn paper mill in Norway last year. The facility converts fishery waste and residual paper mill slurry into liquid biofuel. The Puregas Solutions technology in the plant can recover 99.9% of biomethane from raw biogas through the CApure process. This means that the biomethane itself can be injected directly into the gas grid or liquefied for bioLNG. Once again proving the diversity of biogas and the advantage of the renewable version of LNG over traditional LNG production that still fights the methane leakage problem.

While strides have been taken to expand the popularity of bioLNG, it still doesn’t hold a candle to the booming fossil fuel LNG. Why is it so successful and how effectively does it protect the environment? Find out this and more useful information from industry insiders and LNG experts at the 4th International LNG Summit in Oslo on June 18th! Registration is already open at www.lngsummit.org.