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From biogas to biomethane: A process simulation-based techno-economic comparison of different upgrading technologies in the Italian context

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  • Barbera, Elena
  • Menegon, Silvia
  • Banzato, Donatella
  • D'Alpaos, Chiara
  • Bertucco, Alberto

Abstract

Biogas production and its upgrading to obtain biomethane for use as a transportation fuel has been receiving increasing attention, particularly in Italy. In this work, three commercially developed technologies (Pressure Water Scrubbing, Hot Potassium Carbonate and Pressure Swing Adsorption) are critically compared. Accurate process simulations were carried out to evaluate and optimize the performances in terms of biomethane (and CO2) purity and recovery, as well as specific energy consumption and operating costs, considering a biogas throughput of 500 Nm3 h−1. Results from process simulation were used to develop a detailed Discounted Cash Flow analysis of the different technologies, taking into account the recent subsidies issued on March 19th, 2018 by the Italian legislation to promote biomethane development. All the three processes here considered are able to recover more than 90% of biomethane, with a purity higher than 98%. The economic analysis revealed that, according to the new incentive mechanism set by the Italian so-called Biomethane Government Decree (Government Decree 19/3/2018) the investment payback time would range between 3 and 6 years and the Net Present Value would be positive, whereas in the absence of any incentive the investment would not be profitable for any of these technologies.

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  • Barbera, Elena & Menegon, Silvia & Banzato, Donatella & D'Alpaos, Chiara & Bertucco, Alberto, 2019. "From biogas to biomethane: A process simulation-based techno-economic comparison of different upgrading technologies in the Italian context," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 663-673.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:135:y:2019:i:c:p:663-673
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.12.052
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    3. Bedoić, Robert & Jurić, Filip & Ćosić, Boris & Pukšec, Tomislav & Čuček, Lidija & Duić, Neven, 2020. "Beyond energy crops and subsidised electricity – A study on sustainable biogas production and utilisation in advanced energy markets," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
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    8. Andrea Baccioli & Lorenzo Ferrari & Romain Guiller & Oumayma Yousfi & Francesco Vizza & Umberto Desideri, 2019. "Feasibility Analysis of Bio-Methane Production in a Biogas Plant: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-16, February.
    9. D’Adamo, Idiano & Falcone, Pasquale Marcello & Huisingh, Donald & Morone, Piergiuseppe, 2021. "A circular economy model based on biomethane: What are the opportunities for the municipality of Rome and beyond?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 1660-1672.
    10. Mohammadpour, Hossein & Cord-Ruwisch, Ralf & Pivrikas, Almantas & Ho, Goen, 2022. "Simple energy-efficient electrochemically-driven CO2 scrubbing for biogas upgrading," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 274-282.
    11. Gianluca Caposciutti & Andrea Baccioli & Lorenzo Ferrari & Umberto Desideri, 2020. "Biogas from Anaerobic Digestion: Power Generation or Biomethane Production?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, February.
    12. Lombardi, Lidia & Francini, Giovanni, 2020. "Techno-economic and environmental assessment of the main biogas upgrading technologies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 440-458.
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    14. Grzegorz Piechota & Bartłomiej Igliński, 2021. "Biomethane in Poland—Current Status, Potential, Perspective and Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-32, March.
    15. Marta Wiśniewska & Andrzej Kulig & Krystyna Lelicińska-Serafin, 2021. "Odour Nuisance at Municipal Waste Biogas Plants and the Effect of Feedstock Modification on the Circular Economy—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-22, October.
    16. Alberto Benato & Chiara D’Alpaos & Alarico Macor, 2022. "Possible Ways of Extending the Biogas Plants Lifespan after the Feed-In Tariff Expiration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-23, October.
    17. Francesco Zito, Pasquale & Brunetti, Adele & Barbieri, Giuseppe, 2022. "Renewable biomethane production from biogas upgrading via membrane separation: Experimental analysis and multistep configuration design," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 777-787.

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