Dutch gas distribution grid goes green:decision support tool for local biogas utilization

A Decision Support Tool (DST) has been developed that will aid Distribution Service Operators (DSOs) in their decision making process on which investments to make in the gas distribution grid in order to facilitate the use of biogas. The DST considers both the conversion of biogas to electricity as well as upgrading the biogas to green gas and consequently injecting it into the gas grid. Based on a starting configuration - i.e. a gas grid, gas consumers connected to this grid, and biomass locations -, in combination with several building blocks - e.g. a digester installation, an upgrading plant, and a CHP installation -, the tool generates several solutions to utilize the biomass. The DST generates solutions and determines for each solution two performance criteria: CO2 emission reduction and costs. Showing these solutions, gives the DSOs insight in the available options and which trade-offs can be made. A case study has been performed for the gas grid of the Dutch municipality of Zutphen. This case study showed that cost-wise there is a preference for centralization, i.e. digesting biomass at a central location and upgrading the biogas at a central location to green gas. Furthermore, conversion of biogas to electricity led to the highest CO2 emission reduction, but also to the highest cost.Furthermore, the case study showed that the DST basically works, and that it is a good way to explore the possible investment options. The tool however needs further improvements. For instance, more performance indicators (e.g. energy usage and reliability) will be included. Furthermore, the interaction with the electricity grid will be incorporated and multiple gas qualities in the distribution grid will be introduced. Also more boundary conditions should be added to the DST, for instance taking the topology of the area into account when laying pipeline

Environmental and Energy Performance of the Biomass to Synthetic Natural Gas Supply Chain

A quarter of the total primary energy demand in the European Union is met by natural gas. Synthetic natural gas produced through biomass gasification can contribute to a more sustainable energy supply system. A chain analysis of the energetic performance of synthetic natural gas where the upstream, midstream and downstream part are included has not been found in literature. The energy performance of the possible large-scale application of synthetic natural gas is therefore unsure. A model was designed to analyse the performance of the biomass to synthetic natural gas chain and to estimate the effect of 1% synthetic natural gas in the energy system. A break-even distance is introduced to determine whether it is energetically feasible to apply pretreatment. Results show that torrefaction and pelleting are energetically unfeasible within the European Union. Emissions can be reduced with almost 70% compared to a fossil reference scenario. Over 1.2 Mha is required to fulfil 0.25% of the total primary energy demand in the European Union

Development options for the Dutch gas distribution grid in a changing gas market

The Dutch gas distribution grid faces several\ud changes in the near future. Among others, the share of green gas\ud will grow, the interaction with the electricity distribution grid and\ud local heat grids will increase, and the grid will transform from\ud a mono-gas system to a multi-gas system. The gas distribution\ud grid is likely to be expanded with novel components, e.g.\ud blending stations, gas storage sites, and gas compressor stations.\ud Furthermore, these changes require the currently passive gas\ud distribution grid to become a smart gas grid that monitors and\ud controls the gas pressure, gas flow, and gas quality. Therefore, the\ud distribution service operators need to make investments in the gas\ud distribution grid. When looking at for example the introduction\ud of green gas, a decision tree on the optimal green gas supply\ud configuration can be identified. Decisions in this respect consider,\ud among others, the location of several process steps (perform the\ud process step locally at a small scale or centrally at a larger\ud scale) and the addition of components like a gas storage site or a\ud compressor station. Due to the multitude of development options\ud for the gas distribution grid and the fact that the best solution is\ud largely dependent on the local situation and performance criteria\ud (e.g. CO2 emission minimization or cost minimization), a tool\ud is required that can generate situation specific solutions. Each\ud solution generated by the tool should have its own advantages\ud and disadvantages. Generating multiple options and showing the\ud advantage and disadvantage of them provides the distribution\ud service operators insight in the available options and eases the\ud decision making on investments of the gas distribution grid