A techno-economic assessment of implementing power-to-gas systems based on biomethanation in an operating waste water treatment plant

Michailos, Stavros; Walker, Mark; Moody, Adam; Poggio, Davide; Pourkashanian, Mohamed

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to assess the techno-economic viability of integrating biomethanation into power to gas systems in a real waste water treatment plant (WWTP). The research is the first attempt to assess the viability of several scenarios based on the biomethanation technology that include both in- and ex-situ biomethanation as well as utilisation of on-site renewable electricity and grid electricity in a transient mode.

Five scenarios were designed and evaluated and the calculated LCOE lies between 127.8 and 159.8 £/MWh. The consideration of existing policy mechanisms and revenues from by-products reduces the LCOEs to 31.4–68.1 £/MWh. The execution of a sensitivity analysis exposed that the electricity price and the electrolyser cost are the main cost contributors in all the scenarios. Future techno-economic advances along with imposing appropriate policy incentives can create the proper framework for two scenarios to generate profits. The study concludes that current and future power to gas application should focus on utilising on-site generated electricity.

Citation

Michailos, S., Walker, M., Moody, A., Poggio, D., & Pourkashanian, M. (2021). A techno-economic assessment of implementing power-to-gas systems based on biomethanation in an operating waste water treatment plant. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 9(1), Article 104735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.104735

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 5, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 7, 2020
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Deposit Date: Mar 19, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 8, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
• Print ISSN: 2213-3437
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 104735
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.104735
• Keywords: Biomethanation; Power to gas; Biogas upgrading; CO2 utilisation; Techno-Economics; Carbon footprint assessment
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3742457