Methane renewable sources

At present, methanol is (besides methane) the only chemical that can be produced with 100% selectivity from syngas, and it therefore constitutes a unique starting material for purely syngas-based industrial chemicals. This new role for methanol is also assisted by the ease of transporting it from areas where it can be cheaply produced from low-cost natural gas, coal or renewable sources such as biomass. The rising ethylene cost has given impetus to research devoted to finding routes in which ethylene can be replaced by methanol. 

CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship activities include o Solar assisted steam reforming of natural gas, coal seam methane o Hydrogen generation from fossil fuel sources and renewable sources, including work on electrolysis ... 

As for future sourcing, methane generation from biological sources such as coal beds and composted vegetation is well known, industrially exploited, and of particular recent interest as a potentially renewable source. Methane is also an important constituent of numerous petroleum grades that contain hopanoid and optically active hydrocarbons, which are associated with biological and biochemical processes. 

One biomass conversion unit transforms wood chips into a methane rich gas that can be used in place of natural gas. Another biomass plant in Maine burns peat to produce power. In addition to trees, some smaller plants, like the creosote bush, which grow in poor soil under dry conditions, can be used as sources of biomass, the biological materials that can be used as fuel. These renewable sources of energy can be grown on otherwise unproductive land. 

Catalytic combustion is developing into a very promising ultra-low emission technique for reducing thermal-NOx produced in gas turbine systems, it was first proposed by Pfefferle in the seventies [1]. The main research is, and has been, concentrated on methane as the fuel, however a growing interest in enviroiunental issues have forced the research into renewable sources such as biomass to reduce the net emissions of CO2. Waste materials have also became important, however the problem with waste is to get a clean enough product gas for the gas turbine. This calls for a selection between different kinds of wastes like household residues, toxic wastes, etc. Up to now most combustible wastes have been deposited in landfills, but new directives from the European Parliament, EU COM (98) 558, have increased the interest for the use of industrial waste as a fuel. 

System of Industrial Ecology for Methane Production from Renewable Sources... 

Methane from renewable biological sources will never be a major energy resource, yet it can be a valuable addition to the energy supply mix. Nevertheless, whether methane comes from fossil fuel reservoirs or from bioconversions, it is certain to provide useful energy for many years to come. 

Cogeneration systems can also use renewable fuel sources such as wood, waste products, wood gas or methane from sewage and garbage. The Sun-Diamond plant in Stockton, California used waste walnut shells into electricity for the plant and nearby homes. The walnut shells were used as fuel to produce steam to drive a turbine generator. The low-pressure steam output was then used for heat as well as to refrigerate the plant. The Sun-Diamond cogeneration system produced about 32 million KWH of electricity per year. It only used 12 million and sold the surplus power to Pacific Gas and Electric Company. 

Alternative fuels can be used to power a fuel cell such as hydrogen, methane, natural gas, methanol, ethanol, liquehed petroleum gas and landfill gas, which can be produced from renewable energy sources such as biomass and wind. 

A second workshop, Catalysis for Sustainable Energy Production , was held in Sesto Fiorentino (Florence, Italy) from 29 November to 1 December 2006. The structure and approach of this workshop were similar to those of the first, but the focus was on (i) fuel cells, (ii) hydrogen and methane storage and (iii) H2 production from old to new processes, including those using renewable energy sources. The present book is based on this second workshop and reports a series of invited contributions which provide both the state-of-the-art and frontier research in the field. Many contributions are from industry, but authors were also asked to focus their description on the identification of priority topics and problems. The active discussions during the workshop are reflected in the various chapters of this book. 

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