Flexible Production of Synthetic Natural Gas and Biochar via Gasification of Biomass and Waste Feedstocks
FlexSNG is a jointly funded Horizon 2020 project that aims at fostering international collaboration between the European Union and Canada in the strategic sectors of bioenergy and biofuels
The Goal
FlexSNG – New Video!
Watch this animated video to find out more about the FlexSNG H2020 Project process and objectives.
End-Products
Biomethane
Biomethane, also known as “renewable natural gas”, is a near-pure source of methane produced either by upgrading biogas or, as in FlexSNG, through the gasification of solid biomass followed by methanation. The high-purity biomethane produced in the FlexSNG process complies with the gas quality specifications of natural gas networks and can therefore be stored and distributed using the existing gas infrastructure. Biomethane can be used in various applications in energy production, transportation and industry.
Biochar
Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that is produced from biomass typically in a pyrolysis process in the absence of oxygen. In the FlexSNG process, however, biochar is formed as a by-product in gasification where feedstock conversion to gas is deliberately reduced down to 70-80% to recover the biochar from the bottom of the gasifier. Biochar is an easily storable bioenergy carrier that can be used to displace fossil feedstocks in energy production and industry or e.g. in agriculture for soil amendment.
Renewable Heat
The FlexSNG plant is integrated with local energy systems to utilise the by-product heat from the process as renewable steam to industry, or as renewable district heat to communities. Such heat integration enables high overall efficiency (>80%) that is comparable to combined heat and power production plants.
Innovations
The new gasification-based concept of FlexSNG allows reducing biomethane production costs by 30% compared to state-of-the-art biomass-to-SNG designs owing to the combination of new technology innovations in the conversion process and feedstock supply chain optimization. The target is at medium-scale conversion plants, corresponding to 50-150 MWth feedstock input, that enables the use of local biomass residues and biogenic waste fractions without heavy transport logistics.
The proposed FlexSNG activities support several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular:
EU-Canada Cooperation
FlexSNG is built on international cooperation between European and Canadian partners allowing the project to ensure effective realisation of project activities and achievement of cost reduction targets set for both feedstock supply and conversion process. One of the key benefits of the FlexSNG process is its feedstock-flexibility, which allows for wide geographical replication of biofuels/bioenergy carriers production in Europe, Canada and beyond.
Overall Budget
€ 4.4 Million
Partners
12
Start
Duration
Latest News
FlexSNG News: Pilot tests campaign May 2023
Successful validation campaign: During the first pilot test campaign in May 2023, VTT’s newly constructed pressurized CFB gasification pilot plant “UCG2021” was successfully operated in
FlexSNG Newsletter #4
Read about FlexSNG and the latest project updatesin the full newsletter here.
FlexSNG at EUBCE 2023
FlexSNG had a big presence at this year’s EUBCE with project partners presenting posters, abstracts, chairing session and hosting a successful workshop! The workshop titled Syngas
FlexSNG featured in Cordis information pack: ‘Innovative biomethane for REPowerEU’
Europe’s energy security is under pressure from rising costs, climate change, domestic and international energy policy, and conflict. Biomethane – natural gas produced from renewable
