Biomethane standards

Gas quality standardisation of

biomethane, going from national to
international level

Dr. Mattias Svensson

Swedish Gas Technology Centre
European workshop Biomethane, Brussels
11 March 2014
IEE/10/235 GreenGasGrids

The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. It does not necessarily
reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EACI nor the European Commission are
European
workshop contained
biomethane
140311 Svensson Biomethane Standards 1
responsible for any use that may be made
of the information
therein.

National biomethane standards*

Most biomethane standards are gas grid injection
specs, predominantly in European countries
Outside Europe: SoCalGas, Rule 30 more strict
than the European ones
Swedish SS 155438:1999 only one for direct
utilization of biomethane as vehicle fuel
Despite international work: national standards still
important, and still revisioned CEN work
succeeding or not still an open
*Compilated public information available in Marcogaz report (2006) Injection of Gases from Non-Conventional
Sources into Gas Networks; Health and Safety Executive (2010) Guidance on hazards arising from the
conveyance and use of gas from Non-Conventional Sources (NCS); SoCalGas (2010). Rule 30 Biomethane
Gas Delivery Specifications, www.socalgas.com/documents/business/Rule30_BiomethaneGuidance.pdf

European workshop biomethane 140311 Svensson Biomethane Standards 2

National biomethane standards*

0.5
16.5

0.08
(Si)

-8
70 bar

*Sources: Marcogaz report (2006); HSE (2010); TC 234/WG9 (juli 2010), unpublished draft of Technical Report (TR): Gases from
non-conventional sources Injection into natural gas grids Requirements and recommendations; Proposed Decree by the
European workshop
biomethane
Svensson Biomethane
Standards 3
(Dutch) Minister of Economic Affairs, no. WJZ/13196684, establishing regulations
for natural
gas140311
grid composition
(03-02-2014)

Most important parameters for

Non-Conventional Source Gases
Oxygen corrosion and fouling in cavern storages

Dry pipelines allow higher levels; main source in biomethane is air

for H2S removal, alternative removal methods exist

Siloxanes forms SiO2 during combustion

Man-made, found in WWTP and landfill; Fouling of -sensors and

EATS; Abrasion and cloggings in engines

Ammonia corrosion risk

Easily removed during normal upgrading

Halocarbons corrosion and health concerns

Low risk probability since levels generally low, except some landfill
gas

European workshop biomethane 140311 Svensson Biomethane Standards 4

Less important parameters for

Non-Conventional Source Gases
Volatile metals, e.g. mercury, arsenic
Low risk probability, not present in biomethane

Microorganism unchartered risks: health, corrosion

Risks include the probability of transfer of pathogens from
manure to biogas, and MIC, Microbially Induced Corrosion;
Swedish assessment indicated low health risk*, GTI study on MIC
was not conclusive**

Water Drying gives less risk of corrosion

The corrosion impact of e.g. H2S, CO2 is water dependent

Sulfur/H2S No issue for well upgraded biomethane

H2S removal with excessive air addition may inflate N2 and O2
levels
Main source in the grid is from odorisation and some natural
gases
*Vinners et al 2006 Identification of the microbiological community in biogas systems and evaluation of microbial risks from gas usage
140311 Svensson Biomethane Standards 5
**GTI 2012 Guidance Document for the Introduction of Landfill-Derived RenewableEuropean
Gas intoworkshop
Natural biomethane
Gas Pipelines

Interest in biomethane CEN

work

EU identified lack of standards as barrier for the

implementation of biomethane
2011-2015: CEN standards CNG and biomethane
EC mandate** biomethane grid injection + vehicle fuel
Formation of joint Project committee CEN/TC408 to facilitate
joint work between the gas and automotive businesses
2012: CNG also included in the scope!
Please note: NG specification work in CEN/TC234/WG11 has
priority lane, i.e. the limit values of joint parameters are
decided by them***
(TC234 Gas infrastructure) PC408 (TC019 Petroleum products)
Wide spec (BAU) Gap! Tight spec (Euro6, fuel efficiency)
Biomethane actors somewhere in between
**M/475 08/11/2010, Mandate to CEN for standards for biomethane for use in transport
and injection in natural gas pipelines; ***M/400 16/01/2007, Mandate to CEN for
standardisation in the field of gas qualities
European workshop biomethane 140311 Svensson Biomethane Standards 6

CEN/PC408 scope of work

TC234/WG11: NG grid spec.
1. Grid injection

2. Blends of NG + biomethane

3. Non-grid gas qualities

European workshop biomethane 140311 Svensson Biomethane Standards 7

CEN Different Expert Groups

(EG)
EG1 Biocontent determination
Commission wants test method to settle disputes and deter fraud.
C14 very expensive. Ratio C1/C2, C1/C3 could be alternative. No
report yet available

EG 2 Natural Gas/Biomethane as automotive fuel

EG3 Biomethane grid injection specification
EG4 Special missions Expert Group
Assessment, availability of test methods
Health criteria assessment tool (Annex X, deterministic model
based on actual usage and not unknown leaks)
Quality control, Compliance schemes (Annex C)
Collection of siloxane data

European workshop biomethane 140311 Svensson Biomethane Standards 8

CEN: What limits are proposed?

Highlighting differences, grid vs. fuel
Have priority lane!
TC234/WG11

PC408grid

PC408-fuel
wanted

Sulphur (mg/m3)

<20, excl. odoriz.

<10, incl. odoriz.

Methane No. (MWM)

>65

, Min 70, 80*

O2 (%)

<1 (0.01, storage)

CO (%)

0.1**

NH3, Amine

Tech. free

Chlor. compounds (mgCl/m3)

<1

H2 (%)

- (0.1-10, no limit better)

2, cylinder safety

Water dew temp.

-8 C (corrosion)

Lower, climate***

Siloxanes (mg Si/Nm3)

<0.1-5

<0.1-0.5

Injection: Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and HCN awaits further discussion in the health criteria group
*Euro6: Emission guarantee not only for reference fuel, but for all fuels used
** Health criteria work gave 3 %, but for public acceptance reasons the lower limit was suggested. Might give
problems for thermal gasification
***-10, -20 or -30 C at 200 bars, national decision based on climate.European
Drivability
issue
(methane
workshop
biomethane
140311 hydrates).
Svensson Biomethane Standards 9

Green Gas Grids impact on

standardization work
Direct representation in the CEN/TC408
EBA, NGVA Europe and NGVAE affiliate SGC; NGVAE chair of EG2
Briefs from meetings collected, discussion papers published on
GGG homepage; Final report on the biomethane standardisation
work soon to be issued

Aiding national actors with gas quality information

UK: REA supplying vital info on oxygen and siloxanes to UK
regulators
Spain: EBA member AEBIG given vital info, relayed to regulators
Italy: supplying information to regulators through Consorzio
Italiano Biogas

European workshop biomethane 140311 Svensson Biomethane Standards 10

Biomethane standards
Thank you for your attention!
Any questions?
mattias.svensson@sgc.se

www.greengasresearch.se

141015-16,
www.gasification.se

European workshop biomethane 140311 Svensson Biomethane Standards 11