Jianrong Li
Van Swinden Laboratory (VSL), Netherlands
Title: Progress in developing measurement standards and standardised test methods for biogas and biomethane assessment
Biography
Biography: Jianrong Li
Abstract
Under the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC, mandate M/475, CEN/PC 408 developed specifications for biomethane (i.e., EN16723). Currently, the test methods cited in EN16723 are neither harmonised nor validated, lack aspects of metrological traceability, and are usually not dedicated to biomethane. Thus, they are hampering the energy transition from natural gas to biomethane and are causing the realisation of the EC’s H2020 goals to be too slow. Regulators, grids and refuelling stations, and testing laboratories urgently require harmonised and validated test methods to enable the transportation of biomethane using existing infrastructure as well as clear financial transactions without disputes. Recently an ISO Working Group for Biomethane has been established, i.e. ISO/TC193/SC1/WG25 Biomethane.
In order to assess conformity with the EN16723 specifications and to provide valuable input to ISO/TC193/SC1/WG25, as the successor project of EMRP ENG54 – Metrology for biogas [1], the European joint research project EMPIR 16ENG05 – Metrology for biomethane [2] aims to develop standardised test methods for the parameters (mainly impurities) to be monitored when injecting biomethane into the natural gas grids and when using it as a transport fuel, for example the content of total silicon and siloxanes, halogenated volatile organic compounds, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, ammonia, terpenes, compressor oil and amines in biomethane. A further objective of this work is to develop or improve the measurement standards for these parameters, in order to enable SI traceable calibration and measurement results. For legal purposes, a standardised test method is also needed for determining the fraction of biogenic methane in blends of biomethane and natural gas.
This work will closely liaise with the biogas producing and upgrading industry, regulators and biomethane testing laboratories and other end-users to ensure that the developed test methods are robust and efficient and can readily be implemented.
Latest progress of this work, with focus on results obtained at VSL, will be reported and discussed.