Marina Schwarz + 1,576 May 11, 2018 The German utility is launching a pilot project for the conversion of electricity into something it calls "green methane." I'm not exactly sure what the difference is between green methane and the bad, um, non-green methane that is so much more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Besides, can't we get enough green methane from cows? I'd appreciate someone enlightening me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume Albasini + 851 May 11, 2018 (edited) The power from the wind turbine is used tu split water into oxygen and hydrogen, then the hydrogen is mixed with carbon dioxyde (in this case from a bio-ethanol plant) to produce this green methane. The "green" label comes from the fact that this process is a way to recycle CO2 to produce methane. CO2 + 4H2 CH4 + 2H2O added the formula Edited May 11, 2018 by Guillaume Albasini 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alvin Lee + 5 AA May 22, 2018 wouldn't this increase the cost of methane compared to biogas & fossil natural gas? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume Albasini + 851 May 22, 2018 I don't know what the final cost will be as this is a pilot project and not a large scale production. The goal of the power to gas scheme is to use the extra capacity of solar and wind (when supply is higher than demand) to produce hydrogen or methane. Some interesting points : - Gas is easier to store than electricity - It's a way to recycle CO2 - Green methane is renewable - Gas can be produced closer to the users reducing transport infrastructure costs For Europe it could be a way to be less dependent from russian gas or US LNG. http://www.europeanpowertogas.com/about/power-to-gas 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanilKa + 443 May 23, 2018 On 5/11/2018 at 8:17 PM, Marina Schwarz said: Besides, can't we get enough green methane from cows? I'd appreciate someone enlightening me. even if you convince your cow that it is kinda cool to walk around with a hose in its a$$ and balloon attached to it - there is still an issue of separation of gas from the solids... not to mention methane escaping from the business end of the cow when it belch. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanilKa + 443 May 23, 2018 On 5/11/2018 at 8:39 PM, Guillaume Albasini said: The power from the wind turbine is used tu split water into oxygen and hydrogen, then the hydrogen is mixed with carbon dioxyde (in this case from a bio-ethanol plant) to produce this green methane. The "green" label comes from the fact that this process is a way to recycle CO2 to produce methane. CO2 + 4H2 CH4 + 2H2O added the formula do you know amount of energy required to 1) break H2O and 2) replace O2 in CO2 with H? Wouldn't it be easier to burn hydrogen directly? Fuel cells, pipelines? (yeah, I know about hydrogen-assisted cracking of steel) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume Albasini + 851 May 23, 2018 Some answers and explanations on the economics of power to gas can be found in this article : https://www.carboncommentary.com/blog/2017/3/2/cgb0bbx2uyubc858ubthhxegtd41n0 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanilKa + 443 May 23, 2018 (edited) "wind power to methane" - less convoluted approach for direct capture: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2606956/Now-THATS-wind-power-Cows-wear-BACKPACKS-capture-emissions-miniature-power-stations.html and I though I was joking about tubes and balloons... reality is funnier than I can think of)) Edited May 23, 2018 by DanilKa spelling 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marina Schwarz + 1,576 May 23, 2018 That's how you do it! Very eco-friendly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites