Green Gas

Image of the process
To make Green Gas out of biomass the process consists of a few different steps starting with MILENA gasification and OLGA tar removal. This process is visualised in a short movie.

Green Gas originating from the gasification of biomass has a great future. The production process for Green Gas generally entails the following three steps: gasification, gas cleaning and methanisation. The yield from biomass to Green Gas is high: approximately 70%. Green Gas or Substitute Natural Gas (SNG) is a substitute for natural gas and can be injected into the Dutch natural gas network. Green Gas is a second-generation transport fuel when used in a car as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). In the Netherlands, Green Gas fits within the green gas transition path and features prominently on the innovation agenda. The production of Green Gas can contribute significantly to the energy and CO2 targets of the Netherlands. Industry and businesses, both nationally and internationally, are also devoting considerable attention to Green Gas. 

During the past five years, ECN has acquired a unique knowledge position within SNG technology. Activities focus on biomass gasification, tar removal and gas cleaning. The current development status at ECN is a lab-scale installation for the entire SNG line, a pilot-scale MILENA gasifier and a pilot-scale OLGA tar removal system. In the future R&D process, the pilot installation will be expanded further with devices that have already been developed on a lab scale, but also need to be tested on a larger scale. Both installations (lab and pilot scale) will undergo endurance tests. The results on a lab and pilot scale do not only bring us to a point where SNG technology has been proven, but also marks the beginning of a new phase in SNG development: the design of a demonstration plant.

In summary, the large-scale implementation of SNG will reduce CO₂ emissions, improve supply security, provide business opportunities and establish unique knowledge and technology for the Netherlands.