(BIO)-Gas fuel station in isolated network
Short Description
Status
completed
Summary
The grid-injection of biogas into the natural gas grid exists throughout Europe in more than 50 upgrading plants. The local upgrading of biogas away from the natural gas grid and the subsequently local use as fuel is still an unsolved task. Therefore it was the goal of the project "(bio-)gas local fuel station" to erect Austrias first biogas-upgrading plant in connection with a local fuel station without any connection to a natural gas grid.
Area
The upgrading plant and the local fuel station where implemented in Margarethen am Moos near Schwechat at the site of a 500kW biogas plant. The biogas plant delivers the additional biogas that is converted into fuel by simply increasing its biomass input.
Gas upgrading
The proper technics for the local upgrading plant is the membrane technics. With an average turnout of 33 Nm3 biomethane (methaPUR) it is the smallest commercially running upgrading plant in Europe. Throughout the project the membranes could always deliver the needed gas-quantity and gas-quality. The upgrading plant also was capable to operate in the "supply on demand" modus, by turning off-/on when needed. The offgas from the upgrading plant is reinjected into the biogas plant and converted into heat and power by the installed gas engine. This makes the upgrading station a zero emission plant, because there is no energy loss because of unused offgas.
Gas quality
Contrary to the gas grid injection there is a different legal requirement for the fuel production. In Austria it is the "Kraftstoffverordnung", in Europe it is the DIN 51624. The membrane upgrading plant meets all quality-requirements for a proper fuel production of H-(bio)gas.
Fuel station
The fuel station was licensed and built for non public access in self service operation. Therefore every user has to register once, after that he has unlimited access. The fuel station has actually about 20 customers, and it is expected that within three years there will be a fuel consumption of 150.000 kg (approximately 200 cars) a year. This represents the needed fuel output for a profitable operation.
Outlook
After the success of demonstration-plant in Margarethen am Moos it is now planned, to find 25 more locations in Austria to construct an upgrading plant und a local fuel station similar to Margarethen am Moos.
Project Partners
Project management
DI Harald Bala MSc
TBB Consulting
Project or cooperation partner
- Dr. Michael Harasek und DI Martin Miltner
Technische Universität Wien, Institut für Verfahrenstechnik - Stefan Hiller
AGRAR PLUS
Contact Address
DI Harald Bala
Flösserweg 21
4481 Asten
Tel.: +43 (664) 4021552
E-Mail: tbb.hbala@utanet.at