The Austrian Biomethane Pilot Project at Bruck an der Leitha
A biomethane demonstration project in Bruck an der Leitha, Lower Austria, has been recognized by the Austrian government for its contribution to the development of renewable energy and reduction of emissions. Austria’s Infrastructure Minister Doris Bures characterized the “Biogas Grid Connection” pilot project as the trend for the future. Speaking at the facility, Minister Bures read the certificate: “The biogas technology contributes to the development of renewable energy, creating green jobs and is part of the energy strategy for Austria,” declaring that Austria has moved a step closer to renewable energy by the removal of technical and economic barriers to biomethane supply.
As part of the subprogram “Energy Systems of Tomorrow” feeding biogas into the natural-gas grid was implemented in a comprehensive project for the first time in Austria. Since 2007 a demonstration facility in Bruck an der
Leitha has been purifying biogas to natural-gas standard at a rate of 180 m3/h and feeding up to 800,000 m3 per year into the grid. The project reveals that purifying biogas to naturalgas standard is technically feasible,
energy-efficient and economically profitable.
This process, which achieves a methane content of more than 99 %, is attracting international attention. The product gas (biomethane) complies in all respects with the relevant Austrian guidelines laid down in ÖVGW G31/G33, and thus qualifies for feeding into the grid as a perfectly adequate substitute for natural gas.
Using the product as virtual biogas for gas-fuelled vehicles makes the overall process cost-effective. The biomethane fed in is routed to the neighbouring community Bruck an der Leitha at a pressure of around 3 bar. In the winter months all the gas produced is consumed there; in addition, fossil natural gas is bought in to avoid shortfalls in supplying the community. In the summer months local gas consumption is much lower; excess biomethane is then compressed to 60 bar and fed into the regional grid. This arrangement ensures that the biogas treatment unit can run at a constant level all year round – the facility can be used to the full, with a satisfactory cost structure.
European transport policy for 2020 aims to achieve 10 percent of the total fuel consumption being natural gas for cars; in Austria alone the number of gas-powered vehicles is expected to increase to 50,000. According to NGV Global statistics, there were 208 natural gas fuelling stations operating in Austria at the end of 2009, dispensing to approximately 5000 NGVs.
An information brochure on the demonstration project is available here.
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