Power-to-gas process: development of a catalytic reactor concept

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Wind and solar photovoltaic energy are the fastest growing sources of electricity in Canada. For example, in 2016 the installed wind power in Canada was ~12,000 MW (6% of the electricity demand). However, its electricity supply is not aligned with the energy demand. In this context, energy storage becomes more and more important to bridge temporal and geographical gaps. The Power-to-Gas process (P2G) is a promising technology in which electrical energy is converted into chemical energy (methane) and stored in the natural gas grid. Thus, the already existing gas distribution infrastructure and mature end-use technology can be fully utilized. Within the P2G process, excess electricity is converted to hydrogen via water electrolysis and subsequently converted with captured CO2 (e.g., from biogas plant) to methane. The main challenges in the P2G process are related to the later step - the catalytic conversion of H2 and CO2 to CH4. The aim of proposed NSERC CRD project is the development of a small-scale reactor concept that can be integrated into a Biogas upgrading facility, which are manufactured by Xebec Adsorption Inc. This project will (1) investigate available catalysts that yield high CO2 conversion and CH4 selectivites, (2) determine the corresponding kinetic parameters and(3) design and test a new prototype reactor that resemble a catalytic heat exchange/reactor with alternate reactive and non-reactive channels. By developing a reliable CO2 methanation stage, the first-of-its-kind Canadian P2G pilot plant can be built, which would place Xebec Inc. at the forefront of the industry. Additional benefit include the gain of fundamental knowledge combined with technology development for a process that can significantly shape the energy storage market.