What is biomethane?
Biomethane, also known as green gas, is a fuel with a high concentration of methane, which is obtained from the purification of biogas sourced through the adequate and controlled treatment of agricultural, organic, domestic and industrial waste, energy crops, sewage sludge, etc.
Biomethane LNG is characterised by its negative carbon footprint, making it a real and green alternative in the energy transition.
It is a renewable energy source that contributes to the circular economy, favouring the local economy and generating employment in rural areas, returning resources and nutrients to the soil and acting as a sustainable alternative to incineration or landfill.
The main uses of biomethane are refuelling liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, electricity generation in combined cycle power plants and steam generation or heat production for industries and buildings.
How biomethane is obtained
Certain organic materials, such as animal excrements (mainly from cattle and pigs), food waste or sewage sludge, can be treated to obtain biomethane.
First, the organic materials are collected and placed in a pit, from where they are pumped to the biogas plant or biodigester — a tank without an oxygen atmosphere — where a series of microorganisms degrade the organic matter to produce both nitrate-rich fertilisers and biogas, which is made up of 60-70% methane and 30-40% CO2.
This biogas is refined through an upgrading plant, equipment that is used to enrich the biogas in two stages: a first pre-treatment stage in which water, H2S and other existing traces of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are removed, and a second stage where the biogas is compressed to 16 bars using membrane technology and the CO2 is separated to obtain high purity biomethane, with a composition of 98% methane and 2% CO2.
The biomethane is fed into the gas grid or transported via a virtual pipeline to the HAM Group’s filling stations.
Advantages of biomethane
The HAM Group’s biomethane is environmentally-friendly, as its composition of 98% methane and 2% CO2 reduces the environmental impact compared to other fossil energy sources.
The CO2 obtained in the biogas to biomethane process can be collected and used in the production of beverages and medicines, food preservation, biofuels, algae cultivation as a renewable energy source, cement manufacture, use in fire extinguishers, water and wastewater treatment, welding and metalworking, as well as other uses.
Green gas contributes to achieving European climate targets, reducing CO2 emissions and improving air quality. It also facilitates Europe’s security of supply and energy independence vis-à-vis third countries.
Biomethane favours the circular economy, a new model of production and consumption that promotes the optimisation of resources, reduces the consumption of raw materials and makes use of waste. This helps the environment by reducing emissions and the consumption of natural resources, reducing the generation of new waste, as well as benefiting the local economy by creating new jobs and reducing the importation of raw materials, thus helping local economic growth.
Contact the HAM Group
To receive more information about our products and services related to biomethane, you can write to us now or call us on (34) 93 770 47 60.
Our team will be happy to help and inform you.
