Biogas roundup: Stockholm’s biogas network gets capacity boost

This week in biogas, a new Swedish pipeline increases network capacity, the European Biogas Association highlights biogas as a strategic necessity and a new RNG platform is launched in British Columbia.

St1 Biokraft inaugurates liquid biogas pipeline

St1 Biokraft has inaugurated a new gas pipeline that connects the company’s facilities in Henriksdal (Nacka) and Gladö Kvarn (Huddinge) via Stockholm’s gas network.

According to the biogas company, the new connection means that capacity to produce liquefied biogas in Huddinge has more than doubled.

Miika Johansson, Chief Executive Officer of St1 Biokraft, commented in a statement: “This is a major milestone for us and means we can supply the market with even more liquefied biogas to help accelerate the green transition. Recent developments in the world around us also show how important it is to invest in infrastructure and locally produced energy, and this connection contributes to increased security of supply for both the region and Sweden.”

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The Gladö Kvarn facility comprises a production unit that produces approximately 100GWh of biogas per year and two upgrading units that can produce compressed (CBG) and liquefied (LBG) biogas, respectively.

The LBG unit was completed in late summer 2023 and was then one of the world’s largest liquefaction plants. The LBG upgrading unit is designed for 240GWh, equivalent to 22 million litres of diesel.

What has been missing is the grid connection from the Henriksdal facility, which can only produce CBG.

Biogas as a strategic necessity

The European Biogas Association has released a new report that highlights biogas as a necessary strategic component of Europe’s long‑term energy and climate strategy.

The report, delivered together with Guidehouse Insights, shows biogas is capable of delivering both system flexibility and wider socio‑economic benefits.

Furthermore, it highlights sustainable biogas production potential. The total potential of biomethane and e-methane in 2030, assessed in this study, is 34-35bcm/year (of which 31-32bcm/year relates to the EU-27), and almost exclusively based on biomethane from anaerobic digestion (with a minor share of e-methane).

According to the association, recent geopolitical shocks have prompted renewed interest in energy solutions that can simultaneously enhance energy security and decarbonisation.

Hydron Energy launches new RNG platform

Hydron Energy has announced the launch of a renewable natural gas (RNG) platform project at the Bailey Landfill in Chilliwack in British Columbia.

According to Hydron Energy, the project will validate the company’s proprietary biogas upgrading system for landfill gas operation.

The platform is powered by Hydron Energy's novel metal organic framework (MOF) that is designed to simultaneously remove nitrogen (N₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) at ambient pressure. This capability, states Hydron Energy in a release, simplifies operations and reduces both capital and operating costs.

Soheil Khiavi, Chief Executive Officer at Hydron Energy, commented on the launch: "This project represents a pivotal step toward transforming the economics of RNG production from landfill sites.

"By combining N₂ and CO₂ removal into one streamlined process, we are enabling producers to achieve market-acceptable RNG quality at a materially lower cost. This opens the door for all sizes of landfill projects to become financially viable."