WASTE TO ENERGY
DMT’s Carborex MS membrane upgrading technology is a
plug & play system with more than 99.5% effi ciency
UPGRADE PACKAGE U
Stephen McCulloch describes how to make the most of the RHI reforms with membrane technology
pgrading biogas to biomethane, for injection into the gas grid or for use as a vehicle fuel, has long been touted as one of the most effi cient
uses of biogas. It boasts effi ciency levels of almost 100%, in comparison to just 40% when the gas is converted into electrical energy. T ere are several methods available to upgrade biogas to biomethane of a natural gas quality. T e fi rst commercial plant to do so used water wash technology and in 2012, a new solution came onto the market: highly selective membrane technology. Although technological developments for upgrading biogas have continued apace, the progress of biomethane in the UK was halted just as production began to take off , primarily due to uncertainty over the incentive regime. Having originally been proposed by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) back in December
2016, reforms to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) were delayed due to the General Election and the ongoing Brexit negotiations, leaving the industry in a state of uncertainty for almost 18 months. However, there is now light at the end of the tunnel – these reforms have now been passed, providing additional fi nancial support and certainty for developers of new biomethane-to-grid projects by resetting RHI tariff rates to June 2016 levels and off ering tariff guarantees. As a result, industry insiders are predicting another surge in plant construction, following the fi rst wave of activity that saw 90 UK biomethane facilities built in just fi ve years.
RHI REFORMS – UPLIFTED RATES AND GUARANTEED TARIFFS From the date the new regulations came into force on 22 May 2018, RHI tariff
rates for biomethane generation were increased. T ese rates are applicable to new schemes, as well as to applications for additional capacity. Payments made to small and medium biogas systems are divided into Tier 1 and Tier 2, while systems that produce biomethane are categorised as Tier 3, with their rates being reset to the levels of June 2016. T e new tariff s are as follows: • Tier 1 - 5.44p/kWh • Tier 2 - 3.19p/kWh • Tier 3 - 2.46p/kWh
Additionally, there was a tariff uplift off er available for biomethane installations with a registration date between 14 December 2016 and the date the new regulations came into force. T ere is also a new mechanism for guaranteeing the tariff rate in advance of a plant commissioning, and before
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