Pros and cons of methane energy storage

What are the disadvantages of biomethane storage?

Shortcomings of biomethane storage include high upfront costs of storage infrastructure and limited energy conversion efficiencies of biomethane to deliver different forms of energy. Biomethane storage can be competitive to other available energy storage options.

Is energy storage more efficient in methanol than methane?

In ideal conditions, where no additional energy is required for the reaction and CO 2 is fully converted into products, energy storage is 8% more efficient in methanol than methane. However, the Sabatier reaction can be performed with a lower degree of complexity compared to the CO 2 to methanol reaction.

Is recompression of methane a non-negligible energy consumption?

The energy storage potential of methane is sensibly influenced by the storage pressure selected. For this reason, a non-negligible energy consumption may occur in the recompression of methane for storage. As an example, we calculated the energy requirement to compress methane from 1 to 50 bar to be 20 kJ/mol.

Is biomethane a viable energy storage option?

It has highly specific nature that enables its economically viable application in end uses where co-benefits are obtained from using the gaseous fuel, e.g. in transportation. Biomethane storage may supplement other energy storage options having geographical limitations.

How does biomethane storage affect energy supply?

Energy storage, including biomethane storage, can therefore contribute to sustainability of energy supply, and beneficially affect energy markets, both technically and economically. Biomethane storage improves security of energy supply by diversifying energy sources.

What is the energy storage potential of methanol and methane?

Energy storage potential of the two carries is compared and optimized. Maximal storage efficiency is 85.3% for methanol and 78.2% for methane. Methanol production from CO 2 is optimized in an energy storage perspective. The optimal energy storage system is designed as a combination of the two reactions.