Biomethane: natural and renewable

What is Biomethane?

Biomethane is a natural and renewable gas, derived from the purification process (upgrading) of the biogas obtained from the enhancement of products and by-products of the agricultural and agro-industrial chain, from Organic Waste and the treatment of water and waste sludge.

The benefits of Biomethane

There are two ways to use biomethane: the injection of natural gas into the existing network and use as a fuel for vehicles.

Thanks to its characteristics and methods of use, the biomethane contributes to:
promoting local and circular economies
increasing sustainable mobility for the transport sector
supporting the environment by reducing emissions
achieving the country's energy independence through the use of renewable energy sources

We transform biogas into biomethane

The biogas produced by BTS Biogas plants can be used not only to produce electricity, for heating, cooling and fertilizers, but also biomethane.

Through the upgrading process, methane is separated from all other associated gases, in particular from CO₂.

Biogas purification with BTS Biogas technology

Washing process using pressurized water

With this process, CO₂ and hydrogen sulphide are dissolved in water and separated from biogas.

The biogas is subjected to pressure and purified inside a column filled with countercurrent water. The "unwanted" gases are absorbed by the water while the purified gas, after passing through the column, is drained, dried and made available for entry into the network or for direct use.

At various points in the system, heat is extracted which can be used for heating the tanks of biogas plants.

Process using membranes

In the process that uses membranes, the biogas with pressurized water is first purified of hydrogen sulphide and brought to a higher pressure using compressors.

Methane is then separated from the CO₂ using membranes. It is thus possible to extract all of the methane from the raw biogas, with a dispersion of less than 0.1%.

The part containing CO₂ is further compacted in the separation with membranes and then condensed to obtain 100% pure CO₂, which can be used above all in the food industry.

While washing with pressurized water provides greater benefits if performed in large plants (> 2 MW), it is preferable to carry out the treatment using membranes in small and medium-sized plants.

PSA technology, oscillating pressure adsorption

The separation of CO₂ from methane takes place inside columns containing adsorbent material.

The pressure varies in the columns so that by increasing this value, the CO₂ is absorbed by the material. The system consists of several parallel columns.

When the absorbent properties of one column become saturated, the raw biogas is conveyed to the next column.

Renewable energies

Green in our DNA

In a world increasingly in search of sustainability and protecting the environment, we want to make our contribution with an energy that does not run out, does not pollute and that comes from nature.

Find out more