"Engas UK Ltd is developing a novel raw-wet biogas compressor to directly produce ultra high purity bio-methane for i) refuelling of natural gas vehicles, and ii) Cloud-based back up power. This backup power will be suited for Smart Grid services and off-grid power generation. This solution will also be exported to abroad where CNG vehicles are common and the electricity grid is often unreliable.
**Problem:** There is often a lot of stranded biogas in smaller sewage treatment sites, landfill gas sites, and many existing biogas plants sites where moving raw biogas from one location to another location will create a significant business opportunity; unfortunately shipment of raw biogas is currently NOT feasible due to the high moisture content, high level of CO2 and corrosive H2S impurities. The moisture content in biogas will block the mechanical piston unless the gas is dried upfront of compression. Then CO2 will liquefy during compression at above 60bar at ambient temperature causing serious blockage of piston/valves etc. H2S in raw biogas will also cause corrosion inside the compressor. Drying of raw biogas is inefficient due to the relative humidity causing a high level of surface water in raw biogas.
**Solution:** Engas UK is developing a technology where wet-corrosive biogas having high CO2 content will be compressed and dried and the CO2 will be separated thus producing about 97% Biomethane at 200-250bar, which can be then shipped to a different location for usage e.g. refuelling of vehicles, or for power generation as back up power replacing diesel generators. There is an ongoing debate to phase out diesel backup generators to reduce local pollution and for example, the Government of Delhi has banned the use of diesel generators in Delhi from Nov 2017 to reduce the air pollution, which opens up a large market for bioCNG powered back up generators.
At 250 bar biomethane has 3 times greater volumetric energy density (kWh/lt) than hydrogen, and 3 times greater energy density than the best Li-ion batteries, which will be ideal for energy storage at the most economical options for £/kW installed, and £/kWh delivered.
The above solution addresses all three aspects of **energy trilemma of ""Affordable, carbon neutral, high efficiency, and energy security.** This solution would be suited for stranded biogas from existing sources and also to convert the organic waste to Biomethane at dairy farms, pig farms, new sustainable housing projects, University Campus, business parks etc."
134,832
2017-08-01 to 2018-03-31
Feasibility Studies
Engas UK, a startup in Horsham, West Sussex has developed a disruptive compact, gas purification system
that will now enable farm-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) plants to offer value added services, e.g. transport
fuel production, energy storage for matching the electricity demand with instant supply, and using the by-
product CO2 into greenhouses to grow more tomatoes. This innovation will build capabilities in the UK and
help to create new business models for farm scale AD sector that was not possible by using current imported
technologies from the EU. These innovations will significantly improve the financial return from farm AD
plants without government subsidies. Engas has partnership for manufacturing of their novel purification
system to produce 98% pure bio-CNG fuel and 95% pure Bio-CO2 at 70% lower cost and at 50% greater
efficiency. Engas will build a 50Nm3/h of gas purification unit, bio-CNG storage, and 200-250bar vehicle refueller under this project. Engas will also export this
technology to India to convert waste generated from 50,000 fruit & vegetable markets into bio-CNG fuel. Engas
has formed partnerships in India and received financial support from the Indian Government.
69,976
2017-02-01 to 2018-01-31
Feasibility Studies
Engas UK, based in Horsham, West Sussex has developed a modular, light weight-PLASTIC-CO2 capturing system that will enable small scale anaerobic digestion (AD) plants to offer high value applications, e.g. Biomethane transport fuel, energy storage for matching the electricity demand with instant supply, and using the by-product CO2 into greenhouses and waste water treatment.
This innovation will build capabilities in the UK to create close loop infrastructure of waste, water, energy, transport and CO2 capture.
This will significantly improve the financial return from small scale AD plants without subsidies (FITs, RHI, ROCs)
Engas UK's novel PLASTIC cylinders made at a fraction of the cost than of a metallic cylinder & their innovative CO2 capturing technology is the basis of this technology to produce 98% pure bio-CNG fuel & 95% pure Bio-CO2 at 70% lower cost & at 50% greater efficiency.
Engas will build a 25Nm3/h modular unit under this project.
This technology will be exported to India to convert the waste generated from over 50,000 fruit & vegetable markets into bio-CNG fuel as part of their significant drive and investment to create 100 smart cities by 2020. Engas has partnerships in the UK and in India with the help from UKTI for a first pilot plant in Calcutta-India.