TES, a global green energy company at the forefront of the production of e-NG, and the Smart Grids group of the University of Liège (ULiège), led by Professor Damien Ernst, have successfully wrapped up their first joint research.
The project, titled "Synthetic Methane for Closing the Carbon Loop: Comparative Study of Three Carbon Sources for Remote Carbon-Neutral Fuel Synthetization," began in early August 2023. It aimed to evaluate the practicality and efficiency of creating carbon-neutral synthetic methane, also known as e-NG, in sun-rich areas of Morocco for use in Belgium.
The research builds on the concept of Remote Renewable Energy Hubs (RREH), designed to be situated in remote locations rich in renewable energy for the purpose of producing carbon-neutral synthetic fuels. The study modeled the Energy Supply Chain required to deliver a steady supply of carbon-neutral synthetic methane or e-NG from Morocco to Belgium. It examined the impact of using three different methods for sourcing CO2: Direct Air Capture (DAC) and Post-Combustion Carbon Capture (PCCC). The results indicate that PCCC is the most cost-effective method, allowing e-NG to be delivered to Belgium at a very competitive cost when utilizing existing CO2 sources in Morocco.
Geographical location of the different parts of the ESC (Energy Supply Chain) studied in the work.
e-NG is a renewable fuel created by combining green hydrogen with recycled CO₂. It is chemically indistinguishable from natural gas but comes from renewable sources. This compatibility with existing infrastructures offers an efficient path to reduce emissions in sectors that are traditionally hard to decarbonize.
Key to the study's findings was the efficacy of sourcing CO₂ through PCCC for e-NG synthesis, supporting the importance of existing infrastructure like gas networks in the context of the energy transition. It can indeed facilitate, thanks to e-NG, a smoother, more cost-effective transition to a low-carbon society.
Illustration of three major modules that are part of ESC (Energy Supply Chain) and that are common for all CO2 sourcing configurations. The LNG hub features the infrastructures necessary to receive liquefied e-NG from carriers for the end delivery. The module will be installed in Belgium. The power production hub groups all the elements required to provide renewable power coming from energies to other elements of the ESC. Finally, the e-NG production hub takes power and CO2 as inputs and produces liquid e-NG, water, hydrogen, and heat as outputs. These outputs can be consumed by other elements of the ESC, such as DAC (Direct Air Capture) units.
The collaboration combines the University of Liège's expertise in theoretical modeling and optimization with TES's practical experience and ability to manage complex industrial projects. TES and the University of Liège intend to pursue this successful research partnership that will have a significant impact on accelerating the global transition to renewable, carbon-neutral energy.
Commenting on the announcement, Professor Damien Ernst (ULiège) stated: “TES is a company that has recognized the importance of remote renewable energy hubs as a real game-changer for the energy transition. These structures represent humanity's best chance to fight climate change. This is a great honor for the University of Liège, which has been developing for years now cutting-edge technologies to optimize these hubs, to collaborate with such a visionary company.”
Marco Alverà, CEO and Co-Founder of TES, said: "By collaborating with the University of Liège, we aim to accelerate global decarbonization and ensure our approach is backed by rigorous academic research. We're focused on using renewable energy to produce large volumes of cost-effective e-NG, which is gaining momentum around the world. This allows for immediate decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors without major investments or changes to existing infrastructure."
Scientific reference
“Synthetic methane for closing the carbon loop: Comparative study of three carbon sources for remote carbon-neutral fuel synthetization”
https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/307481
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About TES
TES is a global green energy company leading the way in the production of e-NG (electric natural gas derived from green hydrogen). Headquartered in Europe, TES is committed to making reliable and affordable green energy accessible to all by implementing giga-scale projects that harness the power of sunlight. By expanding its operations across the United States, Middle East, Asia, and Australia, the company utilizes solar and wind energy from cost-effective regions abundant in sunlight or wind. TES follows a sustainable approach by using green hydrogen, generated from solar and wind power, and combining it with CO2 to produce e-NG. This transformation results in a renewable molecule that can be easily transported and stored using existing infrastructure. Through the supply of e-NG to various industries, TES aims to win the climate race ensuring the mass adoption of solar and wind energy across the globe.
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