Applications of biological hydrogen
Biomethane and hydrogen technologies are used across the key sectors of today’s economy – from industrial and utility-scale energy production, through road and maritime transport, to gas networks, waste management and fertilizer production. As fully renewable energy carriers, they provide a real alternative to conventional natural gas (methane), while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy security. Biomethane (bio-CH₄) and biological hydrogen (bio-H₂) can be integrated into existing industrial, energy and logistics infrastructure without costly upgrades. Both carriers offer extensive flexibility – whether used as a direct fuel, as a chemical feedstock, or as an energy-storage medium within renewable energy systems. Their importance continues to grow along with the global energy transition, tightening climate regulations, and increasing pressure to reduce the carbon footprint across entire supply chains.
Biomethane (bio-CH₄) and biological hydrogen (bio-H₂) can be integrated into existing industrial, energy and logistics infrastructure without requiring costly upgrades. Both energy carriers offer extensive flexibility – functioning as direct fuels, as feedstocks for the chemical industry, and as key elements of energy-storage systems supporting renewable energy integration.
Their importance is growing in line with the ongoing energy transition, increasingly stringent climate regulations, and rising pressure to reduce the carbon footprint across entire supply chains.
Main Areas of Application
Biomethane and hydrogen technologies are designed for the key sectors of the economy – from energy and industry to road and maritime transport, gas networks and waste management.
They serve as versatile, fully renewable energy carriers that can replace conventional natural gas (methane) in many applications, contributing to emission reduction and enhanced energy security.
Applications of Biomethane (bio-CH₄)
A renewable gas that can replace conventional methane in energy, industry, transport, and gas networks.
Applications of Biological Hydrogen (bio-H₂)
A clean energy carrier and industrial feedstock supporting the energy transition and climate neutrality.
Biomethane (bio-CH₄)
Biomethane is a high-quality, renewable equivalent of natural gas, with a chemical composition that allows direct use in existing heating, industrial and gas infrastructure.
For this reason, it is considered one of the most promising fuels of the energy transition – capable of replacing conventional methane without the need for major infrastructure upgrades, while ensuring CO₂ reduction and significantly lower environmental impact.
Biomethane serves as a versatile, clean energy source in the power, heating, transport and industrial sectors, enabling the decarbonisation of processes that have traditionally been difficult to electrify.
Main application areas of biomethane
Thermal and electric energy
Biomethane can be combusted in conventional energy and heating systems, including:
– gas boilers,
– cogeneration units (CHP),
– combined heat and power plants,
– heating systems in commercial buildings and public facilities.
It is an ideal fuel for stabilising renewable-based energy systems, as biomethane-based power generation is fully dispatchable – it can be activated whenever wind or solar output is insufficient.
Road, Heavy-Duty and Maritime Transport
Purified biomethane can be converted into:
bioCNG – compressed biomethane for vehicle fleets, buses, and trucks,
bioLNG – liquefied biomethane for heavy transport and marine vessels.
Benefits of biomethane in transport:
– significantly reduces CO₂ emissions (average 80–120% in full LCA),
– reduces NOx and particulate emissions,
– enables near-zero-emission municipal fleets, logistics operations and public transport.
Industry and Chemical Feedstocks
Biomethane is a valuable industrial feedstock and can be used in several ways:
a) As a process fuel
Without the need to modify equipment designed for natural gas combustion.
b) For the production of biomethanol
Biomethanol is a key feedstock used to produce:
– formaldehyde,
– plastics,
– resins,
– solvents,
– intermediates for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
c) For the production of “green hydrogen”
Via steam methane reforming (SMR) with CO₂ capture (CCS), enabling low-carbon hydrogen production.
d) For ammonia and fertilizer production
After conversion to synthesis gas (syngas), biomethane serves as a feedstock for ammonia production – essential for chemical and fertilizer industries.
e) As a renewable carbon source
Biomethane can be the base raw material for the production of:
– ethylene,
– propylene,
– polymers,
– synthetic fibres,
– organic compounds used in the chemical and plastics industries.
f) In methane pyrolysis processes
Biomethane pyrolysis enables the production of hydrogen and carbon black, used in rubber, paints and electronic applications.
Gas Networks and Energy Storage
Due to its compatibility with natural gas, biomethane can be injected into existing gas networks without any infrastructure upgrades.
Benefits include:
– simple integration,
– flexible fuel transport to all consumer groups,
– use of the gas grid as a long-term energy storage solution (power-to-gas-to-grid).
Waste Management – Closing the Resource Loop
Biomethane technologies convert organic waste (manure, silage, bio-waste, sewage sludge) into useful, clean fuel.
This solution:
– eliminates methane emissions from uncontrolled decomposition,
– reduces waste storage costs,
– creates local sources of renewable energy,
– supports circular economy principles.
Production of Ecological Fertilizers
Digestate from the fermentation process is a valuable organic fertilizer:
– replaces mineral fertilizers,
– improves soil fertility,
– increases water retention,
– builds organic carbon in soil (CO₂ → soil),
– can be enriched with minerals and used as an organo-mineral fertilizer.
Biomethane is one of the most versatile energy carriers—combining the roles of fuel, chemical feedstock and a key element of renewable energy systems.
HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY (bio-H₂)
Biological hydrogen produced from biomethane through steam methane reforming (SMR) with CO₂ capture is a clean, renewable energy carrier whose importance is growing both in industry and in the wider energy transition.
Hydrogen enables the decarbonisation of sectors that cannot be fully electrified, and its applications include power generation, chemical production, transport, refining, and energy storage.
Main application areas of hydrogen
Energy and energy storage
Hydrogen serves as a long-term energy storage medium in renewable energy systems (power-to-gas).
It enables:
– storage of surplus electricity from solar PV and wind power,
– stabilisation of electricity grids,
– reconversion and use of the stored fuel during periods of high demand.
In fuel cells, hydrogen:
– generates electricity and heat,
– emits only water vapour,
– offers high conversion efficiency.
It can also be blended with natural gas or used as a standalone fuel in modern gas turbines.
Industry and Technological Processes
Hydrogen is one of the most important industrial feedstocks globally.
a) Chemical industry
– ammonia production (fertilisers),
– methanol production,
– production of numerous chemical compounds and intermediates.
b) Oil refining
Hydrogen is essential in:
– hydrotreating,
– hydrocracking,
– fuel desulphurisation.
c) Metal and materials production
– reduction of iron ore in “green steel” processes,
– production of specialty metals and semiconductors,
– high-temperature processes requiring a clean, reactive gas.
d) Food industry
– hydrogenation of vegetable oils (e.g., margarine),
– protective packaging gas for food products.
Zero-emission transport
Hydrogen is one of the key fuels of the future for clean transport:
– fuel-cell passenger cars,
– municipal and regional buses,
– zero-emission trains,
– ships and marine vessels,
– heavy-duty road transport,
– forklifts used in logistics and warehouses.
Hydrogen emits only water, making it ideal for urban mobility.
In the space sector, hydrogen has long been used as a high-energy rocket fuel.
Municipal Use and Future Applications
Many countries are testing hydrogen for:
– heating residential and commercial buildings,
– production of domestic hot water,
– blending hydrogen into gas networks (H₂-ready systems).
Medicine and Scientific Research
Hydrogen is being examined as a compound with:
– antioxidant properties,
– potential therapeutic benefits (hydrogen-rich water, hydrogen inhalation therapy).
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