Maximizing biogenic carbon utilization by direct hydrogenation of biogas CO2 into electro-fuels

The project addresses the inefficient utilization of biogenic carbon dioxide in current biogas processes. In conventional upgrading, CO₂ is separated from biogas and treated as a waste stream, despite being a renewable carbon resource. This separation step is energy-intensive, and the project aims to reduce this energy demand by eliminating or significantly minimizing the need for CO₂ separation.

Instead, the project develops a process in which the CO₂ in biogas is directly converted into valuable electrofuels such as methanol and hydrocarbons. This approach enables more efficient use of the entire carbon content of biogas while reducing the overall energy consumption of the process.

A key challenge is that contaminants present in biogas are expected to limit catalyst performance and thus reduce process efficiency. The project addresses this by developing and evaluating catalysts that are tolerant to such impurities. Furthermore, process simulations are used to quantify potential energy savings, assess carbon utilization efficiency, and evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of the process. This provides a comprehensive understanding of how the technology can contribute to more resource-efficient and sustainable production of renewable fuels.

Photo: Matthias Heyde, Unsplash