Opening MILENA: Technology for generating Green Gas in new phase
Petten – The Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) develops technology to produce Green Gas on a large scale. Green Gas possesses the same features as natural gas, but is made out of biomass. In the ECN biomass gasifier ‘MILENA’, non-eatable biomass such as timber, verge grass, demolition wood or prune wood is being used. The opening of the installation on Thursday September 4th, was done by Minister Cramer (Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment). This brings a cleaner environment one step closer.
The MILENA completely converts biomass into gas that, after purification and upgrading, can be used as a replacement for natural gas. Moreover, this Green Gas is CO2 neutral and even CO2 negative when the CO2 released during production is being stored. Distinctive features of the gasifier are the high efficiency (70%), the low production costs and the fuel flexibility.
Opening September 4th
After many years of successful research on laboratory scale, the step is taken towards testing on a larger scale (from 5 kg biomass to 150 kg per hour). The construction of this 800 kW pilot installation on the ECN site takes the MILENA technology for Green Gas to the final development stage. The next step would be the commercial application. After the opening act by Minister Cramer, interested parties were given the opportunity to learn more about the production of Green Gas during a tour along the different installations of the unit Biomass, Coal and Environmental research.
Green Gas and the MILENA technology
Green Gas or Substitute Natural Gas (SNG) is a substitute for natural gas and can be blended into the Dutch natural gas network. When Green Gas is used in cars it is classified as a second generation transport fuel. By driving, cooking, heating, producing chemicals, and generating electricity on Green Gas, the usage of fossil fuels is reduced. As a result, CO2 emissions decrease drastically, resulting in a cleaner environment. When the CO2 released during the production of Green Gas is being stored, the application of Green Gas is even a method to withdraw net CO2 from the air.
The MILENA gasification technology enables biomass unfit for consuming (timber, pruning, straw etc.) to be converted into Green Gas with an efficiency of even 70%. The heart of the Green Gas production process is the gasifier in which solid biomass is converted into a gas at high temperature. The gas coming from the gasifier undergoes a series of gas cleaning steps, tar removal, sulfur removal and CO2 removal. For the removal of tar, the most complicated step in the refinement process, ECN applies the patented OLGA technology, developed at ECN. Ultimately, the purification results in Green Gas, similar to natural gas but made out of non-eatable biomass.
For more information on the MILENA technology: MILENA Green Gas
For more information on ECN: www.ecn.nl
Photos Opening MILENA gasifier by Minister Cramer
©Photos: Jasper Lensselink Fotografie
Opening MILENA, Ton Hoff, managing director and Minister Cramer
Opening MILENA, Ton Hoff, managing director presents Change Magazine to Minister Cramer
Opening MILENA, Speech Minister Cramer
Opening MILENA, Check list Sustainable Biomass
Opening MILENA, Opening Minister Cramer
Opening MILENA, Opening Minister Cramer
Opening MILENA, From left to right: Jan Willem Erisman, unit manager Biomass, Coal and Environmental research; Ton Hoff, managing director ECN; Minister Cramer; Ulco Vermeulen, chairman Gas board.
Opening MILENA, Overview ECN Atrium
