PROJECT
The decarbonization of cities and regions is a challenge that must be tackled in order to achieve the net-zero target by 2050. The DeCIRRA project is investigating the role of renewable gases in this challenge.
DeCIRRA is an Innosuisse flagship initiative in which AlphaSYNT is actively involved in sub-project 4 – flexible and efficient methanation. In sub-project 4, the possible combinations of gas treatment membranes and methanation reactors in biogas plants are being investigated for the power-to-gas process (PtG).
The aim is to enable flexible biomethane production and, thanks to the synergetic combination of gas treatment membranes and methanation reactors, to achieve economical biomethane operation all year round.
The basic idea for decarbonizing cities in the DeCIRRA project:
If more electricity is available than is needed, hydrogen can be produced and used to refine biogas by upcycling theCO2 contained in the biogas into biomethane. The biomethane is stored in the existing natural gas infrastructure for later use. In winter, there is no domestic, renewable electricity available for hydrogen production. The biogas can then be upgraded to feed-in biomethane by separating theCO2.
In this subproject 4, optimal configuration and operating schemes for the combined technologies are being developed that allow a biogas plant to be operated with the same equipment in summer and winter.
Sub-project 4 involves the industrial partners AlphaSYNT GmbH and APEX AG as well as the two research partners with experience in this field, the Paul Scherrer Institute and the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences OST.
