The Potential of Biogas; The Solution to Energy Storage

Energy storage will be a demand for balancing the renewable energy systems of tomorrow ‐ especially when excess electricity from wind and solar power requires immediate utilization. Using biogas as a carbon source can generate CO2‐neutral carbon‐based energy carriers, such as methane or methanol. Utilization of biogas today is limited to the generation of heat and power or biomethane (first generation upgrading), both processes disregarding the potential of the large amount of co‐produced CO2 during the fermentation process.

Using renewable energy, biogas upgrading systems can convert the carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon‐based high‐density energy fuels which can replace fossil‐based fuels for applications where they are hard to decarbonize. In this perspective, the authors argue for future utilization possibilities of biogas and introduce the terminology of second generation upgrading to help research and development within this field.

We believe that second generation upgrading of biogas will have a huge potential for dynamic energy storage.