biogas purrification

https://jyx.jyu.fi/dspace/bitstream/handle/123456789/41233/URN%3ANBN%3Afi%3Ajyu-201304221478.pdf?sequence=1

UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ, Faculty of Mathematics and Science 

Department of Biological and Environmental Science 

 

Warren, Katie: Techno-economic comparison of biogas upgrading 

technologies in Europe 

Master of Science Thesis: 44 p. + appendices 13 p. 

Supervisors: University Lecturer Prasad Kaparaju, University Lecturer 

Saija Rasi 

Inspectors: 

August 2012 

 

 

Key Words: biogas cleaning, biogas upgrading, bio-methane, Europe, Finland, Germany, 

Sweden 

ABSTRACT 

Biogas can be cleaned and upgraded to be used as a vehicle fuel, injection into the gas grid, 

heat and power generation. The carbon dioxide removed from the process can be used be 

utilized by industry. The main biogas upgrading technologies in Europe are Pressure 

Swing Adsorption and Water Scrubbing. The first objective is to compare the economics 

of small, medium and large scale biogas upgrading plants in Europe. The second objective 

is to evaluate the technical feasibility of small scale biogas upgrading in Europe. This 

study used a self-designed questionnaire which is sent to biogas plant owners/operators. 

The questionnaire aims to assess the technical issues, process conditions, biogas 

production, the upgrading system, energy use and economics. It also included an in-depth 

literature review. 

 

It was evaluated that the economies of scale favour larger biogas plants where the desired 

scale should be between 500 and 1,400 Nm3

/hour of raw biogas. It is also not economically 

feasible for biogas plant smaller than 150 Nm3

/hour to injection into the grid or for 

commercial fuel stations. However, small scale biogas upgrading can be used to locally 

within small communities to heat, electric and vehicle farm which could be for example 

used on farm scale locations. The economics for smaller plants had much higher specific 

costs that the larger biogas upgrading plants. The economies of scale therefore, show that 

the larger plants are favoured for producing higher quality gas, lower methane loses, higher 

plant efficiency and higher profitability. The profit per Nm3 of upgraded biogas should be 

around 0.35-0.45 € to achiever the payback time of 5 years with small scale plants. This 

means that the cost price for biogas upgrading for small scale plants should be less than 

0.20-0.30 €/ Nm3