Nordic Ren-Gas has selected German engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) as a technology provider for its e-methane project in Tampere, Finland.
Specifically, MAN ES will provide a 50 MWel catalytic methanation reactor for the plant. The technology will be used to convert green hydrogen and captured biogenic CO2 into renewable e-methane. As disclosed, MAN ES will oversee the design, manufacturing, pre-fabrication, testing, delivery, installation supervision, commissioning and performance testing of the equipment.
Mikko Piekkala, Commercial Manager, Ren-Gas, commented: “We are very excited to work with MAN Energy Solutions on our Tampere project. With their methanation technology we are able reach very good methane production efficiency, and to expand our sector integration opportunities even further. Once again, it is great to work with a leading European partner like MAN, and to advance the European hydrogen sector together.”
Christian Obermeier, MAN Energy Solutions, said: “I’m proud that Ren-Gas will rely on our proven methanation technology for this impressive Power-to-Gas project. MAN Energy Solutions is a Power-to-Gas pioneer commissioning its first methanation reactor already in 2013. Since then we have collected comprehensive and valuable operational experiences, which will be incorporated into the design of this new reactor making it highly efficient and resulting in a high methane quality.”
To note, in the e-methane production process, approximately 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide captured from the Tarastenjärvi waste incineration plant’s flue gases will, reportedly, be used as raw material, along with green hydrogen produced with German manufacturer Sunfire’s electrolyzers.
The plant is expected to yield approximately 200 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable fuel for heavy road and maritime transport annually, as well as 180 GWh of carbon dioxide-free district heating for Tampere’s district heating system. At the beginning of 2024, Ren-Gas and Finnish state-owned energy company Gasum signed an offtake agreement under which the latter will buy all of the e-methane to be produced at the plant from 2026 onwards.