Gaya demonstration project : towards industrialization of an innovative and integrated 2nd generation bioSNG pathway through biomass gasification

Abstract

International audienceBiomass gasification is a promising way to make renewable energy. It produces a syngas which can be turned into different kinds of energy: CHP (Combined Heat Power), bio-fuel or combined biomethane fuel (or BioSNG: a green Substitute Natural Gas) and heat. Combined Biomethane/heat is environment-friendly (high energetic and chemical yields, local heat valorisation, reasonable biomass supply volume and radius) and is complementary to the other renewable energies [3]. Project "GAYA", started in June 2010, is aiming to develop and prepare industrialization of the combined 2 nd generation biomethane/heat pathway, through a demonstration operation and an R&D pilot plant to be erected in St Fons (France). This demonstrator unit represents a unique experimental tool in Europe in order to allows industrialization of 2G biomethane pathway from 2017 onward. The project objective is to develop an efficient and environmental friendly 2nd generation pathway from biomass to biomethane and injection in natural gas grid. The project has identified optimized configurations of each process blocks. Innovations and improvements will be developed in order to reach the highest energetic efficiency and a better environmental balance in comparison with others 2 nd generations' pathways. 73