A novel process concept to integrate CO2 Capture and Methanation into the Belgian energy system, utilizing existing infrastructure and the planned hydrogen backbone of Belgium. This project is supported by the Energy Transition Fund of the FPS Economy.
Belgium can utilize syn-methane as an alternative strategic reserve, while developing a sustainable and defossilized energy system. Domestic syn-methane production allows Belgium to become less reliant on the import of syn-methane and forms of natural gas as a feedstock for the gas-fired plants. Considering our status as a gas importer, local syn-methane production makes our energy system less dependent on geopolitics and gas-exporting countries. Sudden cuts and black-outs can be avoided with sufficient strategic reserves and the energy system can perform as expected for the end-consumer. To ensure a strategic security of supply, sufficient infrastructure for storage and transport of the energy molecule is needed.
Grid stability, i.e. the continuous balancing of energy supply and demand, becomes more difficult to manage in the future energy system. An increasing reliance on intermittent RES means that gas-fired plants must be able to deliver peak and variable load when RES is unavailable. To meet demand at peak load and defossilize the energy sector, the gas turbines must utilize a suitable and sustainable energy molecule.
The availability of the infrastructure makes syn-methane a promising complementary energy-carrier to hydrogen, if the technical and economical bottlenecks can be resolved.
Our Mission
This project proposes the use of syn-methane at gas turbines to reduce the carbon footprint of electricity production.
- Production of climate-neutral syn-methane in the Belgian energy system.
- Lowering grid balancing costs.
- Improving security of supply in Belgium.
