FID taken on bio-LNG plant in Netherlands
The FirstBio2Shipping project is set to deliver the first bio-LNG early 2024. The plant will produce around 2,400 ton/year of bio-LNG. Attero will process domestic biowaste into 6 million Nm3 of biogas per year. Nordsol and Attero will jointly produce 2,400 tons/year high-purity bio-LNG and 5,000 tons/year liquid bio-CO2 from this biogas using Nordsol’s patented iLNG technology. Clean fuel supplier Titan, the exclusive long-term off-taker, will supply the bio-LNG to the maritime industry where it will cost-effectively substitute fossil fuels.
Nordsol solely uses membrane technology to remove CO2 and any water. In one energy-efficient step, this separation process creates ultra-pure biomethane that’s ready for liquefaction. The key advantage is that no amine treatment with its high heat demand or pressure-swing adsorption units are needed. Standard membrane technology is enhanced by sweeping the permeate side of the membranes with flash gas from the liquefaction unit. This improves the performance of the membranes and reduces residual CO2 in the retentate more than 10 times.
The produced bio-LNG will reduce GHG emissions by 92% compared to a conventional maritime fuel, representing more than 87500 tCO2e net absolute emissions avoided during the first 10 years of operation.
More ambitious sustainability goals and the need for energy independence have increased the demand for biomethane in both gaseous and liquid form. With the decision to invest and collaborate in the FirstBio2Shipping project, the three partners make it clear that bio-LNG production with integrated biogenic CO2 liquefaction offers maximum green value and economic value for biogas, even if the production plant is small-scale and is decentralized.
Léon van Bossum, commercial director, Nordsol, said: “The FirstBio2Shipping project is intended to start a snowball effect, resulting in more and larger installations that help make shipping more sustainable.”
Jan-Willem Steyvers, business developer, Attero, said: “Producing Bio-LNG out of biogas from biowaste for decarbonising the maritime sector is a unique innovation. Attero is delighted with the cooperation with partners Nordsol and Titan in bringing biogas to a high-end quality product. Yet another step in our mission of continuously increasing sustainability and creating raw materials and energy out of waste.”
Last year, The European Union awarded the project with €4,3M in funding.
This year, the European Parliament adopted the FuelEU Maritime Regulation which aims at the decarbonisation of maritime transport, and recognised liquefied biomethane as a renewable fuel and its potential to blend with and replacement for fossil LNG.
