Decarbonising exisiting heating systems with power-to-gas Enabling existing infrastructure to operate without costly electrification by converting CO 2 into methane fuel
Natan Shahar Standard Carbon
W hen New York City’s Local Law community by imposing a carbon penalty of $268 per tonne of CO₂ emitted. From 2025, buildings exceeding 25,000 square feet must meet stringent annual greenhouse gas limits or face steep penalties, which could reach millions of dollars annually for buildings with outdated boiler systems. Decarbonising NYC’s heating infrastructure is complex, as much of the building stock depends on legacy scotch marine boilers, originally designed for coal and later converted to burn oil and natural gas. Retrofitting or replacing these massive, low-pressure systems is neither straightforward nor inexpensive. 97 (LL97) passed in 2019, it sent shockwaves through the real estate Options such as electric heat pumps or fully electrifying building systems face significant challenges, including capacity constraints, capital expenditures, and extensive retrofits. Power-to-gas technology This is where power-to-gas (P2G) technology emerges as a practical game-changer. Using existing boiler infrastructure, Standard Carbon’s Carbon Bridge P2G system captures CO₂ emissions directly from these boilers. It converts them on-site into renewable natural gas (RNG) using off-peak renewable electricity, allowing the boilers to continue operating while significantly reducing their carbon footprint. The material efficiency of the carbon capture and conversion process approaches 100%. The fundamental elimination of fossil fuel consumption facilitates compliance with LL97 and similar decarbonisation mandates.
Figure 1 Typical NYC boiler
This approach bypasses the need for disruptive electrification projects and grid upgrades, offering a feasible and cost-effective compliance path. It harnesses stranded renewable energy, often curtailed during periods of low demand, and converts it into a storable, dispatchable fuel that integrates with existing infrastructure. In essence, P2G bridges the gap between legacy building systems and a sustainable energy future. It makes use of electricity during off-peak periods, typically 10 hours at night. Assuming a typical natural gas boiler (see Figure 1 ) rated at 100,000 therms: • To replace this gas with RNG from CO₂, the system needs 100,000 ÷ 60% = 166,666 therms equivalent of electricity.
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