Development of a zero-emission and highly efficient BECCU technology for decentralized applications

Development of a novel, biomass-based BECCU concept for decentralized applications for the generation of heat and green SNG with a quality that is suitable for direct feed-in to the gas grid or for utilisation in industrial gas burners

A plant concept based on a fuel-flexible biomass updraft gasifier which is directly coupled with a gas burner shall be developed. This technology shall achieve almost zero emissions of dust, CO and OGC as well as by 90% reduced NOx emissions compared to the state-of-the-art. The latter shall be reached by developing a novel three-way catalyst which is integrated directly into the gas burner. This system can be flexibly coupled with different types of boilers (hot water, thermal oil, steam boilers), which enables a wide range of applications. Downstream the boiler a novel flue gas condensation system shall be integrated, which aims to achieve a thermal efficiency of more than 90% (about 10% absolute more than conventional systems) and shall also reduce the HCl and SO2 contents of the flue gas to below 1 ppm. The gasification/combustion system shall be developed for the use of oxygen-enriched air, which leads to significantly reduced flue gas flows with higher CO2 contents compared to conventional air combustion and thus offers the possibility for a compact and cost-effective downstream carbon capture (CC) plant.

In a new and load-flexible CC process based on carbonate scrubbing, more than 90% of the CO2 shall be separated from the flue gas. The process is based on an innovative micro-bubble reactor to increase the sorption kinetics in the absorber and works at significantly lower temperatures than other CC processes, which enables the use of waste heat from the process to heat the desorber. Furthermore, an innovative absorption liquid shall be applied, which is produced out of ash from biomass combustion. The separated CO2 shall be converted into green methane (SNG) in a novel, compact and load-flexible, single-stage methanation process based on a tubular reactor with an innovative catalyst and cooling concept.

Optimized interfaces between the units combined with a smart hydronic concept should enable an almost complete waste heat utilisation. In addition, the overall system should be able to modulate flexibly between 30 and 100% load (heat-controlled operation).

The methodology used in the project is based on industrial research relying on modelling and laboratory tests on specific issues related to the main components. Based on this, the individual components shall be further developed and a test plant consisting of a biomass combustion plant with 300-400 kW fuel power, a CC unit and a methanation unit shall be designed and built. Extensive test runs shall be carried out at this test plant to evaluate and optimize the technology step-by-step. Technology development will be accompanied by risk assessments, economic analyses and LCAs and will also be compared with reference systems in order to evaluate and highlight the advantages of the new technology.