Download Gas Quality Analysis at Biomethane Entry

Ofgem Review Group on Energy Market Issues for
Biomethane Projects (EMIB)
Gas Quality Analysis at
Biomethane Entry
27 Sept 2011
John Baldwin
Chair, REA Biogas Group
REA Biogas Group
the voice of the UK Biogas industry
since 2004
Summary
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GSM(R) Requirements (Gas quality)
GSM(R) Requirements (other)
Costs of gas quality monitoring
Model Risk Assessments
Possible way forward
GSMR Related Requirements
(Gas quality)
• This is important to the GDNs as they must avoid transporting
off-spec gas
• Standards for monitoring GSMR components:
– What is measured continuously?
• Eg H2S, Wobbe, O2, water dewpoint –
– What is measured by sampling?
• Eg H2, NH3, total S, Siloxanes
• Frequency?
– What is calculated from other measurements?
• Sooting index, hydrocarbon dewpoint
– What is the speed of response for measuring gas quality?
– What is the required accuracy of gas quality measuring devices?
GSMR Related Requirements
(other)
• Standards for Odorant addition
– Safeguards to ensure odorant always being injected at correct rate
• Standards for pressure regulation to prevent over-pressuring the
network
• Standards for providing data to the GDN System Control
Costs of Gas Quality
Measurement
• CV considered as a separate issue (item 6)
• Normal practice is to have a chromatograph to measure
total sulphur
– Is it needed? Is total sulphur only present as H2S?
• H2 monitor
– Is it needed?
• Sooting index
– Can this be calculated/?
• Hydrocarbon dewpoint
– Can this be calculated?
• REA believes saving of around £100k is possible by
adopting a risk assessment approach
– Also the simpler the system the higher the availability
Biomethane Gas Quality – Risk
Assessment
• Can the industry reach a consensus?
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What gas quality components have to be measured?
Frequency?
Accuracy?
Speed of response?
Responsibility for measuring?
• We cannot afford the cost and delay to do this from
first principles for each biomethane project
– Ideally all 4 GDNs would agree to apply the same standards to
reduce overall industry costs
– Draw on other EU countries experience
Model Risk Assessments
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REA suggests that the GDNs and AD industry develop a suite of Model
Risk Assessments (MRA) based on different types of AD feedstock:
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The MRA would use the established GQ/8 process to establish the gas
quality monitoring scheme for each type of biogas to biomethane
project.
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This scheme would then be defined in the NEA gas quality arrangements for that
project.
REA suggests that this is taken forward by one GDN as an IFI project
but all the GDNs send representatives to the GQ/8 Risk Workshops
and have the intent of reaching a consensus that they will all adopt
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Sewage biogas
Food waste biogas
Agricultural waste, crops including manure
Mixed feedstock (eg from MBT plant)
Landfill gas may follow in 2012
SGN considering this
Can use actual biogas from sites generating biogas for electricity
REA has knowledge of gas quality analysis regime in the other EU
countries that inject biomethane
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Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, France
Green Gas Grids Project underway
Biomethane Producer Gas Quality
Measurement
• To ensure that an overall safe and reliable system is developed,
the NEA can also set out minimum standards for the “upstream‟
measurement of gas quality that is used to control the biogas
clean-up and upgrading plant
– This gas quality measurement equipment exists already to control
the biogas clean up and upgrading plant
– Consider manufacture standard solutions – quick and proven
– Suggestion is to ensure a minimum SAFE standard of such
monitoring as done elsewhere in the EU:
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Accuracy
Speed of response
Range of components
Maintenance
Gas Quality – Possible Way Forward
• That a GQ/8 based approach is adopted to reach consensus on
the biomethane gas quality monitoring scheme
– Model Risk Assessments based on feedstock
• That consideration is given to minimum standards of monitoring
in the biogas clean-up and upgrading plant