Power-to-Gas plants convert surplus electricity from wind energy and photovoltaics into renewable hydrogen. If this is converted into biomethane with renewably-produced carbon dioxide, it is referred to as bio-SNG. It can be stored on a long-term basis and thus ensure that not a single kilowatt hour of green electricity is lost.
Bio-SNG is produced from the surplus electricity from photovoltaic systems and wind turbines. This is why bio-SNG is also known as “wind-derived gas”. The conventional production of natural gas from fossil fuels produces climate-damaging carbon dioxide. In the power-to-gas method, however, electrolytically produced hydrogen is methanated with renewably-produced carbon dioxide.
Wherever natural gas is already used today, bio-SNG can also be used. It serves as an energy store for the electricity market, and can be used in existing heating systems or in industry. As a natural gas substitute or in liquid form (bio-LNG), it can replace fossil fuels in individual and freight transport and thus increase the share of renewable energies in the transport sector.
Germany has a huge gas grid of over 511,000 km (in 2017). This existing infrastructure could in the future be used to transport and store bio-SNG over long distances. The existing storage capacities of several billion kilowatt hours are sufficient to bridge long “dark lulls” – phases with low solar radiation and little wind.
Bio-SNG can be produced locally and regionally, thus reducing dependence on foreign energy imports. The value creation takes place locally. Pilot projects are already opening up entry markets for bio-SNG in all sectors. In the medium term, all natural gas technologies already in use today can be replaced by renewable bio-SNG – in the areas of mobility, in electricity and heating systems and in the chemical industry. However, in order to increase market penetration, economic conditions must first be improved and regulatory hurdles removed.
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