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Power-to-Methane
From Waste to Value: Optimising Power-to-Methane with energyPRO
What if your biogas plant could do more than just produce biomethane?
What if it could become a cornerstone of a fully integrated, multi-revenue energy system, turning renewable electricity and captured CO2 into high-value fuels while stabilising the grid?
With energyPRO, this is not a futuristic concept; it is a model-driven reality. This use case demonstrates how energyPRO can be used to design, simulate, and optimise a complex Power-to-Methane (PtM) project, showcasing its powerful capabilities for sector coupling and revenue optimisation.
Photo by European Energy
The Promise of Power-to-X
The transition to a decarbonized energy system requires innovative solutions for storing and utilising variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
Power-to-X (PtX) technologies, particularly Power-to-Methane, offer a promising pathway by converting surplus electricity into synthetic natural gas (SNG), a versatile and storable energy carrier.
PtM projects face several challenges
High Investment Costs
The initial capital expenditure for electrolysers, methanation reactors, and related infrastructure is substantial.
Volatile Electricity Prices
The profitability of PtM plants is highly dependent on the availability of low-cost electricity, making them sensitive to market fluctuations.
System Integration
Effectively coupling PtM plants with renewable energy sources, biogas plants, and district heating networks is complex.
Revenue Stacking
The initial capital expenditure for electrolysers, methanation reactors, and related infrastructure is substantial.
Avoid these risks with energyPRO
Without a comprehensive modelling and optimisation tool, navigating these challenges is a high-risk endeavor. energyPRO provides the necessary platform to de-risk investments and unlock the full economic and environmental potential of Power-to-Methane projects.
Overview of the system modelled
This use case showcases an advanced Power-to-Methane system modeled in energyPRO. The model integrates several key technologies to create a highly efficient and profitable energy hub:
Renewable Power Generation
A 10 MW wind farm and a 10 MW solar PV installation provide the primary source of electricity.
Power-to-Hydrogen
An electrolyser utilises renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen.
Biogas Upgrading
An amin upgrading unit separates CO2 from raw biogas, producing both biomethane and a pure CO2 stream.
Methanation
A methanation plant synthesises the green hydrogen and captured CO2 to produce synthetic methane (biomethane) and methanol.
Sector Coupling
The system is coupled with a district heating network, utilising waste heat from the electrolyser and a heat pump to meet a 25,000 MWh annual heat demand.
Multi-Revenue Streams
The plant generates revenue from the sale of methanol, biomethane to the natural gas grid, and electricity to the day-ahead market.
Modelled system in energyPRO
Financial and Energy Analysis
The energyPRO model provides a detailed financial and energy analysis of the system over a full year of operation. The results highlight the project’s profitability and efficiency.
The table below summarises the annual financial performance of the plant, based on the energyPRO output.
Financial Performance (Annual)
Revenues
Amount (EUR)
Amount (DKK, approx.)
Sale of Methanol
125,106,695
933,980,00
Sale of Methane
3,482,976
25,990,000
Sale of Electricity
31,218
233,000
Total Revenues
128,620,889
960,203,000
Operating Expenditures
Amount (EUR)
Amount (DKK, approx.)
Purchase of Electricity
1,222,053
9,120,000
Grid Tariff
1,105,786
8,250,000
Total Operating Expenditures
2,327,838
17,370,000
Operation Income
126,293,050
942,833,000
Energy Conversion Highlights
energyPRO allows for a detailed analysis of each component’s operational performance. The table below shows the utilisation factor for key components, which is crucial for identifying optimisation potential and ensuring the system is dimensioned correctly.
Component
Operating Hours
Full Load Hours
Utilisation Factor
Efficiency
Methanisation Plant
8,560
6,255.33
71.41%
90.17%
Electrolyser
8,560
3,165.65
36.14%
90.00%
Amin Upgrading
8,760
8,760.00
100.00%
101.50%
Heat Pump
2,057
2,057.00
23.48%
300.00%
Natural Gas Grid
8,760
6,634.24
75.73%
–
Solar PV
4,495
1,093.35
100.00%
–
Wind Farm
7,804
2,028.20
99.98%
–
Metric
Value
Renewable Electricity Generation
31,215.5 MWh (45.85% of total)
Total Heat Delivered
25,004.6 MWh
Waste Heat from Electrolyzer
12,662.6 MWh (50.64% of heat)
Methanol Production
6,255,334.9 kg
Methane Production
9,951,360.1 Nm³
CO2 Utilization Rate
93.78%
Wind Farm
7,804
Production Graphic in energyPRO
Drive profitability & efficiency - why choose energyPRO?
energyPRO is instrumental in modelling and optimising such a complex, integrated energy system. See how it will add value to your project:
Component-Based Modelling
Easily add, remove, and configure components like electrolysers, heat pumps, and methanation units.
Speed up the prototyping and scenario analysis.
Time-Series Simulation
Accurately model the variable nature of renewable energy, electricity prices, and heat demand.
Get a realistic assessment of your system performance and profitability under real-world conditions.
Economic Optimisation
Determine the optimal operating strategy to maximise revenue from multiple markets.
Ensure that the plant operates at maximum profitability by making intelligent decisions on when to produce, store, or sell energy.
Sector Coupling Analysis
Model the intricate interactions between the electricity, gas, and heat sectors.
Discover new opportunities for profit and sustainability that might otherwise be missed.
Financial Analysis Tools
Access detailed financial reporting, including cash flow analysis, ROI, and payback period.
Make informed investment decisions and secure financing thanks to robust financial projections.
Further extension possibilities
The model presented in this use case can be further extended to explore additional opportunities:
Monetising District Heating
Add a revenue stream for the 25 GWh of heat delivered to the district heating network.
Hydrogen Storage
Incorporate hydrogen storage to provide additional flexibility and grid services.
Ancillary Services
Model the provision of frequency regulation and other grid services to create additional revenue streams.
Carbon Footprint Reporting
Utilise energyPRO’s built-in KPI functions to track and report the project’s carbon footprint.
Integration with other PtX Pathways
Explore the production of other e-fuels, such as ammonia or synthetic liquid fuels.
The modules you need
To model and optimize a Power-to-Methane project of this nature, the following energyPRO modules are recommended:
Recommended package for Power-to-Methane in energyPRO
Learn. Apply. Succeed: Your energyPRO Training Hub
This use case is illustrative, not prescriptive. Proper dimensioning requires hydraulic and biological expertise. Still, it shows how engineers can use energyPRO to simulate dynamic, modular water-energy systems — a vital step toward smart, cost-effective infrastructure.
Dive into our comprehensive courses, webinars, and tutorials to master energyPRO’s powerful features.
