On-demand renewable electricity
Renewable electricity’s share of global electricity markets is growing strongly, today worth US$40 billion per annum.
Southern Green Gas is developing renewable methane which can be exported through existing gas infrastructure. This would allow users to generate on-demand renewable electricity using existing power stations.
Southern Green Gas aims to be first to market, protected by a strong intellectual property position.
Southern Green Gas is developing renewable methane which can be exported through existing gas infrastructure. This would allow users to generate on-demand renewable electricity using existing power stations.
Southern Green Gas aims to be first to market, protected by a strong intellectual property position.
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The addressable market is the Government mandated renewable electricity markets in Japan and Korea. Japan and Korea have set renewable electricity targets of 22-24% and 20% by 2030 respectively. This is equivalent to twice the total electricity demand in Australia. However, both countries are lagging in terms of meeting these targets – Japan 18%, Korea 6%. This reflects the high cost of indigenous renewables.
In Japan alone, the unmet portion of the renewable electricity target (i.e. 4-6%) equates to 40-60TWhrs of electricity. In terms of generating this electricity in Japan’s existing gas fired power stations with renewable methane fuel, fulfilling the target would require 290 PJ to 430 PJ of renewable methane requiring investment of up to $60 billion. |
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How we make renewable methane
Solar panels capture Australia’s sunlight to create an electric current. The current is passed through water (H20) to drive electrolysis, a reaction that separates hydrogen (H2) from oxygen (O2). The hydrogen is then stored in a tank, ready for the next step in the process. The oxygen is not needed and is released into the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is then extracted from the air and is combined with the hydrogen (H2) (a process called ‘methanation’). A reaction takes place and the end products are methane (CH4) and water (H2O). The water is recycled to the beginning of the process. Top-up water is extracted from the air, thereby achieving water sustainability.
The methane (CH4) produced has the same properties as natural gas, which can now be transported through existing pipelines systems to customers.
The CO2 captured from the air balances the CO2 emitted when the fuel is used making it carbon neutral.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is then extracted from the air and is combined with the hydrogen (H2) (a process called ‘methanation’). A reaction takes place and the end products are methane (CH4) and water (H2O). The water is recycled to the beginning of the process. Top-up water is extracted from the air, thereby achieving water sustainability.
The methane (CH4) produced has the same properties as natural gas, which can now be transported through existing pipelines systems to customers.
The CO2 captured from the air balances the CO2 emitted when the fuel is used making it carbon neutral.
Advantages with methane
Proposed project locations maximise Australia’s competitive advantages:
- world class solar resource
- abundant low-cost flat land
- major gas pipeline systems.
- 33% hydrogen when reformed, versus 17% for ammonia and 6% for methylcyclohexane (MCH) transportation options
- no new infrastructure required
- cost and speed-to-market advantage.
