Underground Sun Conversion
In the Austrian research project Underground Sun Conversion , headed by RAG Austria AG , natural gas has been generated and stored naturally in a CO 2 -neutral way in a former natural gas storage facility in Pilsbach ( Upper Austria ) since 2018 .
In this research project, hydrogen produced from renewable electricity in a power-to-gas plant is injected together with CO 2 into the natural gas reservoir at a depth of over 1000 meters. There naturally occurring microorganisms ( archaea ) produce "green" natural gas, which can be stored directly and withdrawn at any time if necessary. This is a replica of the natural process of natural gas formation within a few weeks - drastically reduced in time. In this way, renewable energies can be stored and a sustainable, CO 2 -neutral carbon cycle is created that uses the existing infrastructure.
The project is funded as a lead project with almost 5 million euros as part of the energy research program of the Climate and Energy Fund of the Austrian Federal Government . The total cost of the project is just under EUR 8 million. The research project was started in 2017 and should be completed by 2021. Project partners are the Montanuniversität Leoben , the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Department IFA Tulln ), acib GmbH (Austrian Center of Industrial Biotechnology), the Energy Institute at Johannes Kepler University Linz and Axiom Angewandte Prozesstechnik GmbH.
background
"Underground Sun Conversion" builds on the results of the lead project Underground Sun Storage (2013-2017), also funded by the Climate and Energy Fund, for the storage of wind and solar energy in natural gas deposits as part of an in-situ field test. The aim of this project was to research large-volume and seasonal storage options for renewable energy in former natural gas reservoirs in the form of hydrogen admixtures.
Research goals
The aim of the research project is to produce and store large quantities of "green gas" in a natural process in existing (pore) natural gas deposits underground. Both the methanation process (hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis , worldwide patent by RAG) and storage take place naturally. Extensive in-situ tests (field tests) in a small, isolated natural gas storage facility in the Vöcklabruck area (Upper Austria) from the previous project "Underground Sun Storage" confirm that hydrogen and CO 2 introduced into the storage facility are microbiologically converted into methane . The CO 2 is taken from the air, can come from an industrial plant or from biomass . This creates a sustainable carbon cycle. Because the CO 2 is not simply released into the atmosphere, but used for the natural generation and storage of green natural gas. This sector coupling (industry, energy production and supply) not only creates the previously lacking flexibility in dealing with renewable energies, but also solves the storage problem.
Laboratory tests, simulations and scientific field tests are carried out in collaboration with a consortium at the RAG deposit in Pilsbach. The aim is also to test the transferability of the results to many other deposits around the world. The desired results are therefore important for the energy transition .
Benefits of producing natural gas
CO 2 neutrality
Renewable natural gas is therefore CO 2 -neutral when used because the same amount of CO 2 is previously bound in the process of creation. A sustainable carbon cycle is created.
Renewable energies can be stored seasonally
The generation of electricity from solar energy and wind is subject to weather-related and seasonal fluctuations. Demand-oriented production is therefore not possible. By converting renewable energies into natural renewable natural gas, these can be stored in large volumes.
Existing infrastructure is used
Existing infrastructure can be used for the natural production process as well as for underground storage in depleted natural gas reservoirs and for transport via pipelines to the end user.
functionality
Hydrogen is initially generated from solar or wind energy and water (power-to-gas technology) in an above-ground facility. The energy can thus be stored as hydrogen. Together with CO 2 , the hydrogen is fed into an existing (pore) natural gas reservoir. At a depth of over 1000 meters, naturally existing microorganisms (archaea) convert these substances into naturally generated natural gas in a relatively short time. The energy conversion, increase in energy density and energy storage take place in the porous rock of the deposit. The naturally generated green gas can be withdrawn at any time and transported to the consumer via the existing pipeline networks.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ https://www.underground-sun-conversion.at Project website of Underground Sun Conversion
- ^ Project presentation of "Underground Sun Conversion" on the website of the Climate and Energy Fund , accessed on May 11, 2020
- ^ Project presentation of "Underground Sun Storage" on the website of the Climate and Energy Fund , accessed on May 11, 2020
- ↑ a b Underground Sun Storage: Publishable final report (PDF) of October 31, 2017, accessed on May 1, 2020
- ↑ Method for hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis of h2 and co2 to ch4 on Google Patents, accessed on May 11, 2020
- ↑ Brochure "Underground Sun Conversion , accessed on May 11, 2020