Decarbonisation Technology May 2026 Issue

Reliable energy generation via renewable energy sources By tackling operational challenges with suitable chemical solutions, refiners can meet decarbonisation targets and gain economic benefits

I n the modern world, the production of oil and gas continues to play a vital role and is a decisive factor in the economic development of a country. The burning or processing of fossil fuels produces s ignificant amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG) worldwide. The carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) levels in the atmosphere have increased, intensifying the greenhouse effect and causing the average global temperature to rise. Climate change can no longer be ignored, as it presents the world with enormous challenges that go far beyond national environmental issues. Therefore, the global goal in the coming years must be to reduce GHG emissions in order to achieve much lower levels of air pollution and promote more sustainable resource use. Overall, renewable fuels, such as biofuels, hydrogen, and synthetic fuels, can help restore a more sustainable equilibrium in the carbon cycle. Biogas Biogas is a renewable energy source produced by anaerobic digestion of organic materials, such as agricultural waste, manure, food waste, municipal waste, and sewage. It primarily consists of 50-80% CH 4 , 15-50% CO 2, along with gases like hydrogen (H 2 ), hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S), nitrogen (N), and water vapour. One major advantage of biogas is its availability, which provides 24/7 renewable energy with high reliability. This is a significant advantage for countries that are dependent on the supply of fossil fuels. Biogas is produced in several stages:  Input : Organic waste is mixed with water to achieve the desired total solid (TS). Duygu Disci and Berthold Otzisk Kurita Europe Mohamed Hudhaifa Kurita AquaChemie

 Digestion : Microbial breakdown in anaerobic conditions produces biogas.  Gas handling : Biogas is collected, stored, and optionally upgraded.  Energy use : Biogas is used for heat, electricity, or fuel.  Digestate use : Nutrient-rich byproduct is used as a fertiliser. In Europe, Germany is the largest biogas producer, with around 10,000 biogas plants. In 2023, Italy, France, Denmark, and the UK showed the strongest growth in biomethane production. Notably, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia use nearly all of their biomethane in the transport sector. As of early 2024, biomethane “ One major advantage of biogas is its availability, which provides 24/7 renewable energy with high reliability. This is a significant advantage for countries that are dependent on the supply of fossil fuels ” alone accounted for 4.9 billion cubic metres (cbm) per year, with an installed capacity of 6.4 bcm/year. This production meets about 7% of the EU’s natural gas consumption, equivalent to the combined demand of Belgium, Denmark and Ireland. According to the European Biogas Association, Europe could potentially produce 40 bcm/year of biomethane by 2030. There are many digester designs, each with different operating conditions. Conventional digesters require 45-60 days for complete digestion, while high-rate commercial plant digesters require only 15-25, with increased