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Project title

Production of Advanced Gaseous Biomethane transport fuel in an integrated circular bioenergy system (AGB)

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University College Cork (UCC)

Lead Applicant

Richen Lin

Project Abstract

In Ireland, approximately 40% of total energy consumption is associated with transport (mainly fuelled by petrol and diesel); this has contributed to significant greenhouse gas emissions and impacted negatively on urban air quality. Compared to electricity and heat, transport is the least decarbonised sector in Ireland. Ireland has a target to achieve 10% renewable transport by 2020, but the technological strategy is not certain as yet. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a viable technology to produce biogas (60% biomethane and 40% carbon dioxide), whilst treating wastes and residues; in an Irish context grass silage is an excellent source of biogas. Integrating power to gas (P2G) with AD offers an innovative means to upgrade biogas to green gas (97% biomethane), whilst supporting intermittent renewable electricity and producing advanced renewable transport fuel. This proposal will evaluate a future integrated bioenergy system, including the concepts of cascading bioenergy and circular bioeconomy. The system will produce advanced gaseous transport biomethane from a wide array of second and third generation biomass (such as grass silage, food waste, and seaweed). Proposed outcomes include (1) systems integration and optimisation for biogas production and upgrading to advanced green gas, and (2) sustainability validation of advanced biofuel production. This project will investigate (1) systems integration and optimisation for biogas production and upgrading to advanced green gas, and (2) sustainability validation of advanced biofuel production. The outcomes will mainly include: 1. A peer reviewed journal paper on modelling microbial electron transfer in anaerobic digestion 2. A peer reviewed journal paper on assessing biogas upgrading in in-situ biological methanation system 3. A peer reviewed journal paper on assessing biogas upgrading in ex-situ biological methanation system 4. A peer reviewed journal paper on assessing digestion performance by adding pyrochar 5. A peer reviewed journal paper on identifying microbial communities in advanced biofuel system 6. A peer reviewed journal paper on techno-economic and environmental analysis of advanced biofuel production 7. A new design for a circular bioenergy system producing advanced biomethane fuel 8. A final report on the new bioenergy system with research methodologies and results 9. Training and capacity building for one senior post-doc and one PhD student

Grant Approved

�341,596.17

Research Hub

Green and Circular Economy

Research Theme

Resource efficiency

Start Date

29/03/2019

Initial Projected Completion Date

28/03/2022