Renewable Energy: How to Save It
- PFAFFENHOFEN, Germany – Storing renewable energy remains a significant hurdle in the global energy transition.Biological methanization, a power-to-gas method, offers a potential solution.
- This process converts excess carbon dioxide into renewable methane for storage.
- The ORBIT II research project, involving the research center for energy networks and energy storage (fenes) at OTH Regensburg and other partners, focuses on advancing power-to-gas systems.
Power-to-Gas Tech Tested at German Sewage Plant
Table of Contents
- Power-to-Gas Tech Tested at German Sewage Plant
- Power-to-Gas: A Lasting Solution for Renewable Energy Storage?
- What is Power-to-Gas (PtG) Technology?
- What is Biological Methanization?
- How Does Biological Methanization Work?
- What are the Benefits of Biological Methanization?
- Where is This Technology Currently Being Tested?
- What is the ORBIT II Research Project?
- What is the Meaning of Testing at a Sewage Treatment Plant?
- What are the Key Differences Between ORBIT I and ORBIT II?
- Who is Involved in the ORBIT II Project?
- What is the Timeline and Funding for the ORBIT II Project?
- What is the primary Goal of the Field Test in pfaffenhofen?
- Where Can I Find more Facts About the ORBIT II Project?
- How Does This Technology Contribute to a 100% Renewable Energy Supply?
- What Are the Potential Applications of the Methane Produced?
- Summary Table of Key Project Details:
Published: May 5, 2025
PFAFFENHOFEN, Germany – Storing renewable energy remains a significant hurdle in the global energy transition.Biological methanization, a power-to-gas method, offers a potential solution.
This process converts excess carbon dioxide into renewable methane for storage. A field test underway in Pfaffenhofen aims to demonstrate the technology’s viability for industrial applications.
The ORBIT II research project, involving the research center for energy networks and energy storage (fenes) at OTH Regensburg and other partners, focuses on advancing power-to-gas systems.
ORBIT, an acronym for “optimization of a trickle bed bioreactor for the dynamic microbial biosynthesis of methane with archaeen in power-to-gas systems,” builds upon the earlier ORBIT I project. ORBIT II expanded a bioreactor by adding an electrolyzer and integrating it into a transportable container.
How Biological Methanization Works
Biological methanization mimics natural processes. Carbon dioxide, sourced from industrial activities, biogas plants, or even the atmosphere, combines with hydrogen. Electrolysis, powered by renewable electricity, generates the hydrogen. microorganisms,specifically methanogenic archaea,convert these gases into methane and water. The resulting methane can serve as a climate-neutral energy source.
Field Test Aims to Prove Feasibility
The system is currently being tested at the Pfaffenhofen Stadtwerke sewage treatment plant. OTH Regensburg, along with the municipal utilities, a local energy cooperative, and Ostermeier H2YDRogen Solutions GmbH, an electrolyzer manufacturer, are collaborating to assess the technology in an industrial setting.
Instead of using pure carbon dioxide, the research team is using sewage gas to produce methane. The methanization system is directly connected to the sewage treatment plant for this purpose.
“We prove that technology not only works in the academic environment, but also in practice,” said Prof. Dr. Michael Sterner, professor of energy storage at OTH Regensburg. “This is how we show that the technologies for a 100 percent renewable energy supply work and are available for the implementation on site in citizens’ hands. Pfaffenhofen is the ideal location that has been successfully working on this goal for decades. The system is another milestone on this way.”
The ORBIT II facility will remain in operation in Pfaffenhofen until the project concludes in August. The Federal Ministry of Economics and climate Protection (BMWK) is funding the ORBIT II project with 1.8 million euros.
More information about the project can be found at orbit-projekt.de.
Power-to-Gas: A Lasting Solution for Renewable Energy Storage?
What is Power-to-Gas (PtG) Technology?
Power-to-Gas (ptg) technology is a method that converts excess electrical energy, often from renewable sources like solar or wind, into a gaseous fuel, typically methane. this methane can then be stored and used later, providing a way to stabilize the intermittency of renewable energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. Biological methanization is one type of PtG technology.
What is Biological Methanization?
Biological methanization is a specific PtG process that harnesses the power of microorganisms. It mimics a natural process where carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) are converted into methane (CH4) and water (H2O) with the help of methanogenic archaea.
How Does Biological Methanization Work?
This process involves a few key steps:
- Sourcing CO2: Carbon dioxide is captured from various sources,including industrial processes,biogas plants,or even directly from the atmosphere.
- Generating Hydrogen: Renewable electricity is used in an electrolyzer to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
- Microbial Conversion: Methanogenic archaea, a type of microorganism, combine the CO2 and hydrogen in a bioreactor.
- Methane Production: The microorganisms convert the CO2 and hydrogen into methane, which can then be used as a renewable energy source.
What are the Benefits of Biological Methanization?
Biological methanization offers several advantages:
Renewable Energy Storage: Converts intermittent renewable energy into a storable form (methane).
CO2 Reduction: Uses CO2 as a feedstock,turning a waste product into a valuable resource and potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
climate-Neutral Fuel: Methane produced through this process is a climate-neutral energy source.
Versatile Application: Methane can be used for various purposes, including heating, electricity generation, and transportation.
Where is This Technology Currently Being Tested?
A field test is underway in Pfaffenhofen, Germany, at the Pfaffenhofen Stadtwerke sewage treatment plant.
What is the ORBIT II Research Project?
The ORBIT II research project is focusing on advancing power-to-gas systems, specifically biological methanization. Its being conducted in Pfaffenhofen and builds upon the earlier ORBIT I project. ORBIT II expanded a bioreactor by adding an electrolyzer and integrating it into a transportable container.
Partners: The project involves the research centre for energy networks and energy storage (fenes) at OTH Regensburg, along with municipal utilities, a local energy cooperative, and Ostermeier H2YDRogen Solutions GmbH (an electrolyzer manufacturer).
Goal: To demonstrate the feasibility and viability of biological methanization for industrial applications.
What is the Meaning of Testing at a Sewage Treatment Plant?
The research team is using sewage gas to produce methane in the field test,showcasing the integration of this technology with existing infrastructure. This approach offers benefits:
Resource Optimization: Utilizing sewage gas, a byproduct of wastewater treatment.
On-site integration: Direct connection to the sewage treatment plant.
What are the Key Differences Between ORBIT I and ORBIT II?
ORBIT II builds upon the foundation laid by ORBIT I. Key changes include the addition of an electrolyzer to the bioreactor and integration into a transportable container.
Who is Involved in the ORBIT II Project?
The ORBIT II project is a collaborative effort involving:
OTH Regensburg (research center)
Pfaffenhofen Stadtwerke (municipal utilities)
A local energy cooperative
Ostermeier H2YDRogen Solutions GmbH (electrolyzer manufacturer)
What is the Timeline and Funding for the ORBIT II Project?
The ORBIT II facility will remain in operation in Pfaffenhofen until the project concludes in August. The Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) is funding the ORBIT II project with 1.8 million euros.
What is the primary Goal of the Field Test in pfaffenhofen?
The field test aims to prove that biological methanization is not only viable in a research setting but also practical for industrial applications.Professor Dr.Michael Sterner, professor of energy storage at OTH Regensburg, emphasizes the goal of showing how these technologies can be implemented on-site, especially in communities like Pfaffenhoffen which are focused on 100% renewable energy goals.
Where Can I Find more Facts About the ORBIT II Project?
More information can be found on the project website: orbit-projekt.de
How Does This Technology Contribute to a 100% Renewable Energy Supply?
Biological methanization is a key step in achieving a fully renewable energy supply. It addresses the challenge of storing intermittent energy sources (solar and wind). By converting surplus energy into a storable form (methane), it ensures a stable, reliable energy supply that is not dependent on specific times of the day or year.
What Are the Potential Applications of the Methane Produced?
The methane produced can be used in numerous ways:
Heating
Electricity generation
Transportation (as a fuel)
Feedstock for other chemical processes
Summary Table of Key Project Details:
| Feature | Description |
| :——————- | :————————————————————————————————————————————— |
| Project Name | ORBIT II |
| technology | Biological Methanization (Power-to-Gas) |
| Location | Pfaffenhofen, Germany |
| Goal | Demonstrate viability of biological methanization for industrial applications in a sewage treatment plant setting. |
| Partners | OTH Regensburg, Pfaffenhofen Stadtwerke, local energy cooperative, Ostermeier H2YDRogen Solutions GmbH |
| CO2 Source | Sewage gas |
| Funding | 1.8 million euros from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) |
| Project Timeline | Operational until August |
| Key Innovation | Integration of electrolyzer and bioreactor in a transportable container to produce methane from sewage gas, showing practical application |