Aim of the synthesis of methane is the feeding of sustainable produced gas into the natural gas distribution network. The contents of carbon monoxide and hydrogen of the producer gas are catalytically converted to methane. After elutriation of the carbon dioxide, pure methane can be fed into the natural gas distribution system. The percentage of energy from biomass can be increased by using the whole infrastructure of the gas distribution network.

In June 2003, the first test of the methanization was completed successfully in Güssing in cooperation with the Swiss Paul Scherer Institute. After adequate long-term tests for the evaluation of the durability of the catalyst a 1 MW pilot plant could get tackled in cooperation with the CTU AG. A demonstration plant was coupled to the producer gas line of the existing biomass steam gasification power plant in Güssing. The first production of methane in December 2008 was awarded (for the first time a non-Swiss company) with the technological 'Watt d'Or Award' 2009 (an award for the best performance in the energy sector under the patronage of the federal office for energy for the 'Bio-SNG from wood' project) for Repotec Umwelttechnik GmbH.

The positiv experience of the demonstration plant in Güssing were used at the 20 MW-project in Göteborg and the GAYA project.

Beginning 2006
End 2009
Project coordinator German biomass research centre