Vårgårda-Herrljunga Biogas expanding and upgrading biogas plant

In Sweden, Vårgårda-Herrljunga Biogas AB opted for the winning green combination of biogas and membrane technology as early as 2013. Now, EnviTec’s customer is expanding its biogas plant with another gas upgrading plant, which will meet the prescribed DIN standard for vehicle fuel. While the rated capacity of the new gas upgrading plant amounts to 402 Nm³ per hour of biomethane (600 Nm³/h of raw biogas, 65 Vol. % Methane), it is already prepared for a capacity expansion of up to 566 Nm³ per hour of biomethane (840 Nm³/h of raw biogas, 65 Vol. % Methane).

The plant is connected to a local four-kilometer-long 4-bar gas network that is, in turn, connected to a high-pressure station. Here, the pressure is increased to 250 bar. Being the green multi-talent that it is, biomethane can then be filled into mobile containers and delivered to a CNG filling station for future use as fuel. The process developed by Evonik Industries and EnviTec is particularly environmentally friendly because it takes advantage of the different sizes and speeds of passage of gas molecules: Since carbon dioxide molecules are smaller than methane molecules, they can migrate through the membrane much faster. The methane remains on the high-pressure side of the membrane, while the CO2 molecules of the biogas pass through. The gas upgrading process thus requires neither chemicals nor water or other additives. The biomethane produced can now be used wherever natural gas is used – including the fuel sector, like in Sweden.

EnviTec Biogas has had experience as a plant manufacturer in the Scandinavian and Baltic market for 9 years. The globally operating medium-sized company from Lohne and Saerbeck Germany recently announced the start of construction of its 100th EnviThan plant, which will help to drive the climate transition on the Danish island of Funen.