The 3rd workshop of the ORBIT II research project was held on 10 October 2024 at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg. In ten presentations, new findings and the future of biological methanisation in Germany were highlighted from both a theoretical and practical level.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Karl of FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg welcomed the participants to the first session, which discussed both the position and the potential of biological methanation in the German energy system. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Sterner from OTH Regensburg pointed out the necessity of biogas and biomethane as long-term storage facilities, while critically discussing the scaling back of both sources through corresponding draft legislation. According to Andreas Wunram from N-ERGIE, biogas and biomethane can also make a valuable contribution to the energy transition from the perspective of a grid operator, without competing with hydrogen.
Christian Dorfner of SK Verbundenergie AG opened the second session with his presentation ‘Biogas plants as storage power plants – the potential of flexible bioenergy in the power plant strategy and heat transition’, which discussed the flexibilisation of biogas plants. The study ‘Biogas in the future energy system’ from the Chair of Energy Process Engineering at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg by Jürgen Karl was also presented. The study shows that the interaction between hydrogen power plants and biogas plants will limit future price increases.
In the subsequent open session, six contributions shared new findings in the field of flexible and automatic operation of power-to-gas plants, analysed market developments and presented both the potential and the responsibility of hydrogen production.
This was followed in the afternoon by exciting insights into the practical implementation of biological methanisation. Dr. Holger Klos from Stadtwerke Pfaffenhofen presented the authorisation procedures and the planning process for a plant in the MW range. In line with this, Hermann Kagerer from AEROLOG discussed the safety aspects of such a plant. Jakob Müller from FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg provided insights into CO2-neutral LNG, while Nora Elhaus, also from FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, concluded the workshop with her presentation on the ‘Economy and ecology of flexible biogas plants in combination with biological methanisation’.
Author: Kathrin Rettinger