Standardization of biomethane as automotive fuel Jaime del Álamo Technical Manager NGVA Europe GGG Workshop. Development of Legislation, Injection and Trade Paris, 5 th March 2013 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 1
Why biomethane? A unique biofuel The answer is pretty simple: Can be produced from many different sources. All types of biomatter serve for the purpose The technology for production, upgrading and end-user applications is mature A biofuel with the same chemical composition than its fossil counterpart? No blending limitation, even a better product than fossil NG Same logistics as for NG, either compressed or liquefied 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 2
Steps for EU-wide implementation Several countries in Europe have a quite good experience both, in biomethane injection and also in biogas and/or biomethane use as a fuel. Some existing barriers: Vehicle Fuel Grid Injection - Lack of a common European biomethane specification for grid injection and use as a fuel - Availability of proper incentive schemes, favouring grid injection and/or vehicle use over biogas for electricity production - Availability of Natural Gas Vehicle refuelling infrastructure - Availability of an EU-wide NGV market in terms of vehicle offer and running park Source: GreenGasGrids Project 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 3
The role of the European Commission It was not until late 2010 that the EC addressed a specific mandate (M475) to CEN for the development of: a)a European standard for a quality specification for biomethane to be used as a fuel for vehicle engines; b)a Technical Specification or European Norm for a quality specification for biomethane to be injected in natural gas pipelines Europe NEEDS Biomethane! 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 4
: in charge of the job Current situation: 7 meetings to date. Last on 31 st & 1 st January/February 2013 First versions of the Working Drafts will have to be ready by the end of 2013. Agreement must be found before October 2013 in order to spread for CEN inquiry Next meeting on 11 th & 12 th March 2013 Main points under discussion: Basic Approach: within the group, and as the scope as been widened so as to also cover NG fuel quality, there s a wide variety of industry experts: NG companies, TSOs, Vehicle Manufacturers, Technical Institutes, and some liaison national and regional associations such as EBA, NGVA Europe, etc. This situation created some internal discussions on the basic layout of the work to be done: necessity for 1 or 2 standards, dependency on the gas grid spec, etc. 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 5
Committee Structure: Three internal expert groups: EG1: bio-content determination EG2: NG/biomethane as a fuel EG3: grid injection specification Some key points: The EC had the idea of having the C14 method standardized for the measurement of bio-content in the NG grid. Has been demonstrated not to be feasible In parallel, CEN/TC 234/WG 11 is working on the general NG grid specification One can find NG/biomethane refuelling stations connected to the grid, and not connected For refuelling stations connected to the grid, little quality adaption can be made 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 6
Main points under discussion: 7 Siloxanes/Silicon: several documents have been made available by different experts. Limits depending on the application but the most strict ones for gas turbines and ICEs (ranging from 0,05 mg/nm3) No agreed sampling / test method is available yet. DNV KEMA has presented a project proposal to the EC for engine testing and GERG is willing to work in the sampling and test methods. NGVA Europe is coordinating the input from CEN/TC 408 to the DNV KEMA project. What is the impact i.e. on boilers? Main problem for waste-water treatment and landfill gas. Substantial Si control experience in Germany and Switzerland via the use of carbon active filters 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 7
Water content/water dew point: as both parameters are important and are also correlated (ISO 18453) we decided to only limit one of them, and preferably the dew point ECE R110 sets a water content limit of 32 mg/m 3 and a pressure dew point of- 9 0 C at 200 bar only for safety. CEN/TC 234 evaluating some -80C at maximum pipeline pressure. This seems not enough to assure proper functioning in cold climates so the gas is generally dried much more than that Conclusion Proposal: to create a variable limit depending on different climate zones. For example: Zone A: 0 0 C at 200 bar Zone B: -10 0 C at 200 bar Zone C: -20 0 C at 200 bar Zone D: -30 0 C at 200 bar 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 8 8
Hydrogen Sulphide: ECE R110 sets a limit (for safety operation of Natural Gas Vehicles) of 23 mg/m 3 and the German DIN 51624 sets 7 mg/kg. Bosch suggested a North American study which proposes some 3,5-7 mg/kg limit due to the H 2 S combustion products sticking ICE valves. The discussion on the future grid limitation mainly for corrosion, as informed by CEN/TC234, seems to lead towards 5 mg/nm3 or 6-7 mg/kg so: Conclusion: most suitable limitation seems to be 6 mg/kg (5 mg/m3) 9 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 9
Hydrogen: ECE R110 sets a limit (for safety operation of Natural Gas Vehicles) of 2 % v/v due to potential embrittlement of metallic materials at high pressures. For grid injection, and general NG grid specification, the value is still to be decided: Conclusion: most suitable limitation seems to be 6 mg/kg (5 mg/m3) NCS Injection Requirements in Different European Countries. Source: Marcogaz 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 10
Oxygen: ECE R110 sets a limit (for safety operation of Natural Gas Vehicles) of 1 % v/v due to potential corrosion. For the general NG grid specification, CEN/TC 234 is proposing to make it variable depending on aspects such as proximity to underground storages, though the limits are still to be discussed. For biomethane injection into the grid some preliminary values ranging between 0,1 and 2% have been proposed. NCS Injection Requirements in Different European Countries. Source: Marcogaz Conclusion: ECE R110 limit of 1% v/v was set 15 years ago to prevent corrosion of CNG cylinders. Now we re thinking of more strict requirements on water content/dew point. Would it be acceptable to raise then the O 2 limit a bit? Most of the O 2 -related problems for biogas/biomethane is landfill biogas! 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 11
Compressor Oil & Particles: several bad experiences with natural gas vehicles regarding oil carry-over and particles deposition. No agreed test method is available yet, but DVGW in Germany is working in the refinement of a preliminary gravimetric method and SP/SGC in Sweden is about to finish a test method capable of determining all types of oil (dissolved and suspended) CNG Sampling System. Source: DVGW Conclusion: CEN/TC 408 agrees in the need of limiting this aspect, either by a general recommendation on the installation of proper filtering devices or by explicit limitation (i.e. 10 mg/nm 3 ) 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 12
Heating Value: as agreed within the group, the proposed minimum LHV is 44 MJ/kg which means some 95% CH4 content in biomethane Of outmost importance for home appliances, and NG engines in general. Performance-based parameter. *Note: the German DIN 51624 sets 46 MJ/kg for NG as a fuel 10 mg/nm 3 ) CH 4 -LHV Relation for a Binary Mixture of CH 4 and CO 2. Source: E.ON Ruhrgas 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 13
Thank you for your attention! jaime.alamo@ngvaeurope.eu www.ngvaeurope.eu 5 th March 2013 GGG Workshop. Development of Biomethane in Europe 14