Green Gas, also known as biomethane is made from biodegradable materials. Green Gas fuel is used in the same manner as fossil fuels.

Unlike fossil fuels, Green Gas can be produced from renewable sources such as landfill gas and biomethane.

Biomethane is a gas mixture that is predominantly methane (>97%). It has similar thermal characteristics to natural gas.

In the past, landfill gas and biogas were used to generate electricity. With the rise of renewable heat and transport fuel, producers are now turning this gas into biomethane and putting it into the gas distribution network. This method cuts greenhouse gas emissions and helps meet the European Union’s target for renewable energy.

But Green Gas can come in many forms. When you are buying your ‘green tariff’ from your supplier, the gas they are referring to can mean different things.

Where does Green Gas come from?

Green Gas is made from organic matter that has been processed at an anaerobic digestion plant.

The process involves using bacteria to break down food, farm waste, and crops. As the bacteria break down the matter, biogas is released.

The resulting product is called biomethane and it is injected into the gas grid and used to generate electricity.

What are the benefits of Green Gas?

Green Gas is a cleaner burning alternative to traditional fossil fuels. It is also more energy efficient.

Green Gas will help us as a planet move towards a sustainable future because Green Gas is virtually carbon neutral.

Future of Green Gas

Currently, there are over 570 anaerobic digestion plants in the UK. Although this is enough to make Green Gas a cost-competitive alternative to fossil fuels, there is still not enough production to meet the demand.

This is why new schemes such as the Clean Heat Grant Scheme and the Green Gas Levy will help boost the investment in green gas.

Types of Biomass Gas

Landfill Gas

Landfill gas production results from chemical reactions and microbes acting upon the waste in the landfill. The rate of production is affected by a variety of environmental factors including the type of bacteria present at that plant.

Due to the complexity of the environment and the varying nature of the landfill gas produced, it is difficult to predict and control its production.

Syngas

Syngas (Synthetic Natural Gas) is a gas that is produced by the thermochemical process of converting organic material into a flammable gas.

Syngas has less than half the energy density of natural gas.

Syngas can be produced from various organic materials such as food waste, paper, and wood. It can be used as a fuel source or an intermediate for production of other chemicals.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is a gas that can be used in various ways across the energy industry. Its widespread adoption is still in its early stages.

This is because it costs too much to make at a fast enough rate. Prices will likely stay high until 2030+.

Where hydrogen comes from, though, is very important. It is generally produced industrially from natural gas. This type of hydrogen is referred to as ‘grey’.

A cleaner version is blue hydrogen, where the carbon emissions are ‘caught’ and reused in another process, so there is little carbon waste. The other is green hydrogen which is the cleanest form, as it is generated by a renewable energy source and so no carbon emissions are produced at all.

Grey hydrogen is cheaper than its counterpart in terms of price at about £1 per kilo. This means grey hydrogen is currently the most popular.

Perhaps the future of hydrogen will be cleaner, and greener, than it currently is. Below is a guide to the different forms of hydrogen.

Blue Hydrogen	When gas is split into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, blue hydrogen is produced. The captured carbon dioxide is then stored.*
Green Hydrogen	Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen via a process called electrolysis. To make green hydrogen, we need electricity. This process can be achieved by using renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind so the whole process is sustainable.
Grey Hydrogen	Grey hydrogen is produced through a process known as blue hydrogen SMR or ATR. This procedure is similar to the method used to split natural gas into hydrogen and CO2 however all the CO2 is released during the process, meaning the process of producing Grey hydrogen is not very planet-friendly.
Pink Hydrogen	Similar to green hydrogen, pink hydrogen is made via electrolysis, but using nuclear energy as its source of power.
Yellow Hydrogen	This type of hydrogen is also made by using electrolysis, but the process is powered by solar power exclusively.

* The ‘capturing’ is done through a process called Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS).

As the UK prepares to reach its legal net zero greenhouse gas target by 2050, the oil and gas industry can help by using existing and transferable knowledge to produce blue hydrogen. This transition period is likely to last for another 30 years.

To meet the global energy demand, industries are looking for every potential technology. There is great potential in blue and green hydrogen. Due to the increasing energy demand, the industry is looking for various energy efficiency solutions. Blue and green hydrogen have great potential to play an important role in this transition.