Presentation Topics
Background
Biomethane Resources in Ireland
Biomethane Market Overview
Gas Quality Standard
The Causeway Project
Green Gas Certification Project
2
Creating a biomethane market in Ireland -
EBC - 2017
• Gas Networks Ireland owns and operates
the transmission and distribution natural
gas network in Ireland.
• Over 13,500 km of gas pipelines
• 2,422Km Transmission Network
• 11,288Km Distribution Network
More than 675,000 gas consumers
• 650,000 homes and 25,000 businesses
• Over 160 population centres present in 19 counties
• Gas Network with Abundant Capacity, Secure and Reliable supply of energy
Gas Networks Ireland
• 16% overall renewable energy by 2020
• 40% electricity;12% heat; 10% transport
• Most progress to date has been in electricity
sector
• Least progress has been in the transport
sector
• The heat sector may have to make up the
short fall from transport
• Renewable Gas will enable Industry to
achieve renewable targets, without the need
to re-invest in alternative infrastructure,
• Industry can help Ireland meet its renewable
heat (RES-H) targets of 12% by 2020 by
using renewable gas.
Ireland’s Renewable Energy 2020 Commitments
Data sourced from SEAI, 2015 “Renewable Heat in Ireland
to 2020”
Agri-Food Industry Commitments
• Agri-Food companies are “going green”
for commercial reasons and corporate
social responsibility
• There is increasing demand for
renewable gas from food and drinks
processors
• Many large natural gas users and now
want to procure “green gas” in the same
manner as they buy “green” electricity
Potential Renewable Gas Resource in Ireland
0
10.000
20.000
30.000
40.000
50.000
60.000
70.000
80.000
Theoretical Renewable GasResource
Estimated Renewable GasProduction by 2030
Current natural gas demand
Ene
rgy
(GW
h/a
nn
um
)
Organic Waste Agricultural Manure Grass Natural Gas demand Emerging Sources
Grass biomethane resource in Ireland
Teagasc study by McEniry et al.,
2011 examined Ireland’s potential
to grow additional grass in excess
of livestock fodder requirements.
R. O’Shea et al. 2017 combined the
Teagasc methodology with CSO
data to identify areas with the
largest potential to grow additional
grass for biogas
Other sustainable energy crops
such as energy beet also have
significant potential in Ireland
Grass to transport fuel
harvest silage storage
macerator
Source: energiewerkstatt, IEA
anaerobic
digester
weigh bridge
Biogas service station Scrubbing &
storage
Cost of Biogas Scenarios for Ireland
• The levellised cost of energy (LCOE)
for biomethane production can range
from €40-€90/MWh depending on the
scenario
• Integration of small scale agri biogas
is more expensive but has many
benefits for local economies
• A guaranteed payment for the
biomethane produced is required for
investor confidence
• Renewable Heat Incentive is
expected by fourth quarter of 2017
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Integratedsmall scale
Agri AD(Slurry and
Grass)
Large ScaleAgri AD(Grass)
Agri-Foodprocessing AD
LC
OE
(€
/MW
h)
Overview of the Biomethane Market Structure
Biomethane
Producer /
Injection Plant
Operator
Entry
Connection
Agreement
Connected
Systems
Agreement
Gas Networks Ireland
(Transporter)
Gas
Purchase
Agreement
[Renewable
Heat
Incentive]
Gas Shipper / Supplier
Code of
Operations
Green Gas
Certificatio
n
Customer Sector
Parties involved in Renewable Gas to Grid
Production Upgrading
and purification
Grid Entry Grid
Delivery Facility Operator Gas Transporter Biogas Producer
Biogas Producer & Delivery Facility
Operator (DFO) can be the same entity
17
Connection Model for Ireland
18
• GNI following the National Grid
UK “Minimum Connection
Model”
Well developed in GB,
reflects best practice and
applications of lessons
learned.
Competitive; several
competent and capable
technology providers and
operators on the market.
DFO Network Operator
GNI’s Connection Process
1. Initial Enquiry with preliminary Network Assessment
2. Detailed Analysis Study
3. Customer Application to Connect
4. Economic Test (if applicable)
5. Impact Assessment
6. Final Technical Assessment & Design
7. Connection Agreement
8. Connected Systems Agreement
9. Build & Installation
10. Sign-up/Register with Shipper(s)
11. Testing & Commission
12. Project close out & Business as usual
19
Gas Quality Appendix 1 – Part G - Code of Operations Gas Quality Specification at an Entry Point
‒ 3 The CO2 limit of 2.5% will not be considered breached if the total inerts (including CO2) in the gas is less than 8% where: “inerts” in natural gas means carbon dioxide(CO2), nitrogen(N2), helium(He), argon(Ar), and oxygen(O2).
‒ 4 Natural Gas shall not contain solid liquid or gaseous material which may interfere with the integrity or operation of pipes or any Natural Gas appliance which a consumer or transporter could reasonably be expected to operate. With respect to mist, dust, liquid, gas delivered shall be technically free in accordance with BS3156 11.0 [1998].
‒ 5 Natural Gas shall have no odour that might contravene the obligation of the Transporter to transmit gas which possesses a distinctive and characteristic odour. Where the Transporter requires gas to be odourised, the gas shall be odourised in accordance with the following specification: - Odour intensity of 2 olfactory degrees on the SALES Scale (Ref- IGE/SR/16/1989), or - such other specification determined by the Transporter acting as an RPO
21
Continuous Monitoring Required at Network Entry Facility
Parameter to be monitored
Delivery temperature
Delivery pressure
Biomethane flowrate
Wobbe index
Incomplete combustion factor
Sooting index
Gross calorific value
Oxygen (O2)
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S)
Water dew temperature
Odorant injection rate
Odorant injection status
ROV status 22
• The Delivery Facility Operator (DFO) is responsible for Controlling Gas Quality
• GNI is responsible for Assuring Gas Quality
• Network Entry Facility serves both the DFO and the Network Operator (GNI)
‒ Fully integrated into the DFOs Gas Purification and Process Control system; live streaming data, automatic interface controls.
‒ It will provide interval data (repeat signals) to GNI Grid Control to provide Assurance of quality conformance and consumer protection.
Includes a Remotely Operated Valve (ROV), required for Network Control.
Constituents that may requiring routine monitoring
23
POTENTIAL CONSTITUENTS
Total Sulphur
Hydrogen Sulphide
Ammonia
Hydrogen Chloride
Hydrogen Fluoride
Total halogenated hydrocarbons
Xylenes
Arsenic
Siloxanes, as Silicon
• GNI will conduct a Measurement Impact Assessment (MIA) with the DFO as part of the connection process.
‒ Among the expected outputs of this MIA will be identification of constituents that may only be present in very small quantities, but may require sample monitoring
• DFO must also notify GNI in advance of any material change in the type of feedstock;
‒ E.g. a farm based operator obtaining an EPA license to take in Brown Bin waste
‒ MIA may need revising, and increased monitoring may be required
Biomethane Key Market Enablers in UK
• UK Government support through Renewable Heat Incentive for biomethane
included in 2014
• “Class exemption” with respect to oxygen (up to 1% mol) that permits any
gas injected into a pipeline, provided it is compliant with all other aspects of
GSMR
• Gas Transporter Licence Exemption - assisted biomethane to grid sector by
enabling producers to own and operate biomethane pipelines less than 7 bar
pressure.
24
The Causeway Project
The project aims to examine the impact
of increased levels of CNG fast refill
stations and renewable gas injection on
the operation of the gas network in
Ireland.
14 Fast Fill CNG stations installed;
Vehicle fund established to support
CNG vehicle acquisition;
Renewable gas injection facility; and
System operation & behaviour data
analysis.
Our vision for CNG in Ireland
• CNG is targeting the bus and truck fleets
‒ Over 1,000 HGVs (Truck)
‒ Over 1,000 Large PSV (Bus)
‒ Vans also
• Refuelling Network – Fast Fill CNG
‒ Causeway Project –
GNI delivering 14 High Capacity Fast
Fill Stations and 1 Renewable Gas
injection point in RoI by 2019
The Causeway Project is co-financed
by the European Union's TEN-
T programme
‒ National Network of 70 CNG stations by
2027
‒ 27 Public Access Stations CNG Stations
‒ Min. 8 Renewable Gas injection points
1 4 10 15 18 23 29 35 41 49 57
70
0 50 100
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
2026
Total Stations
Ireland’s first Biogas to Grid Project
Feedstock
“Soup” = Pig
slurry + food
waste Biogas Production Biogas Purification & Upgrading
Biomethane Network
Entry Facility
Compressed Gas
Transport by Road
Renewable Gas Project Timeline
1st Quarter 2017 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter 1st Quarter 2018
Design & Procurement Phase
Fri 20/01/17 - Thu 30/09/17
Construction & Installation
Wed 23/08/17 - Thu 25/01/18
Biogas to Grid Flow On
Today
Typical GHG emissions from different biomethane sources
-200 -150 -100 -50 0 50 100
MANURE
BIOWASTE
GRASS SILAGE
EU NATURAL GAS
Net GHG emissions (gCO2/MJ)
Data sources for biowaste and manure taken from "Solid and
Gaseous bioenergy pathways: input values and GHG emissions"
JRC. p.162. Available at:
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/eur-scientific-and-technical-
research-reports/solid-and-gaseous-bioenergy-pathways-input-
values-and-ghg-emissions
Data for grass biomethane emissions savings taken from Korres et
al., 2010, “Is grass biomethane a sustainable transport fuel?
Biofuels Bioprod, & Bioref. Vol. 4. pp. 310-325
• Net Greenhouse gas (GHG)
savings from manure
biomethane ~140% relative to
natural gas (i.e. carbon
negative)
• This includes carbon saving
from avoided GHG emissions
from conventional manure
storage as per IPCC guidelines
• Net GHG savings from
biowaste biomethane (including
agri-food processing residues)
~80% relative to natural gas
• Net GHG savings from grass
biomethane can be ~ 75%
relative to natural gas
Summary
• Biomethane can deliver major environmental and economic benefits to the
agricultural and agri-food processing industry in Ireland
• Gas Networks Ireland is strongly advocating for policy support for
biomethane to decarbonise the heat and transport sectors in Ireland
• GNI is committed to facilitating renewable gas on our network
Email: [email protected] Tel: +353 87 1128973