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Comparative life cycle assessment of power-to-methane pathways : process simulation of biological and catalytic biogas methanation

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Abstract
Power-to-Methane (P2M) pathways are proposed as an innovative solution to utilize surplus renewable electricity for long-term and long-distance storage. This electricity can produce hydrogen using electrolysis and, with the input of CO2 from biogas, be further used for the production of synthetic methane. The methanation reaction can be done with a biocatalyst or nickel catalyst, each with a different pathway of pre- and post-treatment steps. To date, only a limited number of studies have analysed the environmental impact of P2M pathways using life cycle assessment, and no study has directly compared the biological and catalytic P2M pathways. The goal of this research is to close this knowledge gap by quantifying the environmental impact of synthetic methane production and identifying differences between both pathways. Mass and heat balances of both pathways were simulated with AspenPlus and used as basis for a thorough life cycle inventory of the material and energy demand. The global warming potential per MWh synthetic CH4 is similar for the biological and catalytic pathways, but the impact is differently distributed between the processes. The catalytic pathway requires more sulfur removal, compression power and cooling demand. In the biological pathway, the bioreactor has a large impact due to its electricity and nutrient demand, whereas the catalytic reactor's impact is almost negligible.
Keywords
Power-to-Methane, Synthetic methane, Biological methanation, Catalytic methanation, Life cycle assessment, AspenPlus simulation

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MLA
Goffart De Roeck, Freya, et al. “Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Power-to-Methane Pathways : Process Simulation of Biological and Catalytic Biogas Methanation.” JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, vol. 380, no. part 2, 2022, doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135033.
APA
Goffart De Roeck, F., Buchmayr, A., Gripekoven, J., Mertens, J., & Dewulf, J. (2022). Comparative life cycle assessment of power-to-methane pathways : process simulation of biological and catalytic biogas methanation. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, 380(part 2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135033
Chicago author-date
Goffart De Roeck, Freya, Astrid Buchmayr, Jim Gripekoven, Jan Mertens, and Jo Dewulf. 2022. “Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Power-to-Methane Pathways : Process Simulation of Biological and Catalytic Biogas Methanation.” JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION 380 (part 2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135033.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Goffart De Roeck, Freya, Astrid Buchmayr, Jim Gripekoven, Jan Mertens, and Jo Dewulf. 2022. “Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Power-to-Methane Pathways : Process Simulation of Biological and Catalytic Biogas Methanation.” JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION 380 (part 2). doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135033.
Vancouver
1.
Goffart De Roeck F, Buchmayr A, Gripekoven J, Mertens J, Dewulf J. Comparative life cycle assessment of power-to-methane pathways : process simulation of biological and catalytic biogas methanation. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION. 2022;380(part 2).
IEEE
[1]
F. Goffart De Roeck, A. Buchmayr, J. Gripekoven, J. Mertens, and J. Dewulf, “Comparative life cycle assessment of power-to-methane pathways : process simulation of biological and catalytic biogas methanation,” JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, vol. 380, no. part 2, 2022.
@article{01GJD2TXK14Y97Q4NZF7SH1TST,
  abstract     = {{Power-to-Methane (P2M) pathways are proposed as an innovative solution to utilize surplus renewable electricity for long-term and long-distance storage. This electricity can produce hydrogen using electrolysis and, with the input of CO2 from biogas, be further used for the production of synthetic methane. The methanation reaction can be done with a biocatalyst or nickel catalyst, each with a different pathway of pre- and post-treatment steps. To date, only a limited number of studies have analysed the environmental impact of P2M pathways using life cycle assessment, and no study has directly compared the biological and catalytic P2M pathways. The goal of this research is to close this knowledge gap by quantifying the environmental impact of synthetic methane production and identifying differences between both pathways. Mass and heat balances of both pathways were simulated with AspenPlus and used as basis for a thorough life cycle inventory of the material and energy demand. The global warming potential per MWh synthetic CH4 is similar for the biological and catalytic pathways, but the impact is differently distributed between the processes. The catalytic pathway requires more sulfur removal, compression power and cooling demand. In the biological pathway, the bioreactor has a large impact due to its electricity and nutrient demand, whereas the catalytic reactor's impact is almost negligible.}},
  articleno    = {{135033}},
  author       = {{Goffart De Roeck, Freya and Buchmayr, Astrid and Gripekoven, Jim and Mertens, Jan and Dewulf, Jo}},
  issn         = {{0959-6526}},
  journal      = {{JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION}},
  keywords     = {{Power-to-Methane,Synthetic methane,Biological methanation,Catalytic methanation,Life cycle assessment,AspenPlus simulation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{part 2}},
  pages        = {{15}},
  title        = {{Comparative life cycle assessment of power-to-methane pathways : process simulation of biological and catalytic biogas methanation}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135033}},
  volume       = {{380}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}

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