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for tar removal and physical solvent washing of
H S, followed by VESTA clean syngas methanation The construction activities are ongoing as per the
2
and chemical solvent washing for the CO removal. planned schedule and will result in a fully
2
The Biomass-to-SNG Demonstration Project operational commercial demonstrator in 2018
follows on from the existing pilot plant, and which will enable the first full scale commercial
focuses on the commercial innovation necessary plants to commence operation in 2020, which is
to enable the construction of commercial plants in line with the Carbon Plan targets.
now that the necessary technical research has
been completed. The UK’s Department for
Transport, as part of a programme to develop Biogas Upgrading
and commercialise technologies required to Biogas upgrading pathways to produce Bio-SNG
decarbonise the transport sector, and National deals with the integrated SNG production from
Grid Gas Distribution, who own and operate a biogas and renewable hydrogen. Likewise the
large part of the UK’s gas distribution network, Biomass-to-SNG process scheme, the syngas
funded the 4.5 MWth demonstration plant of the conditioning and cleaning steps can vary
Biomass-to-SNG process. depending upon feed gas composition. Figure 4
The overall process will use Advanced Plasma shows the block flow diagram of biogas upgrading
Power’s Gasplasma® technology to convert and SNG production from purified biogas and
biomass to syngas followed by Wood’s VESTA renewable hydrogen coming from electrolytic cell,
SNG technology to convert syngas to SNG. which includes the following sections:
Wood’s scope inside the Biomass-to-SNG • biogas clean-up (deep desulphurisation,
Demonstration Project consists of a Basic dehalogenation) and compression;
Engineering Design followed by Engineering • clean syngas methanation;
Procurement & Fabrication of Wood’s VESTA • CO removal system;
2
SNG technology including the following sections: • SNG drying.
• final gas clean-up;
• clean syngas methanation; Table 2 collects a case study relevant to a small
• CO removal system; scale unit that involves biogas upgrading and Bio-
2
• SNG drying. SNG production with VESTA catalytic methanation.

Valentina Depetri

Valentina is Process Engineer in the Process Technology for national and international Customers. While
& Consulting group of Wood (formerly Amec Foster maturating her professional skills in the world of process
Wheeler), with a Master Degree in Chemical Engineering simulation, design and execution, Valentina is
from Politecnico di Milano. coauthoring several papers relevant to the SNG
After joining Wood in 2016, Valentina had the opportunity technology.
to cover the process design of hydrogen and SNG units

Guido Collodi

Guido Collodi is Process Director, Chemicals, in the and syngas. He then became Technology Leader with
Milan office of Wood (formerly Amec Foster Wheeler) process responsibility in major IGCC and Gas to Liquids
with responsibilities in fertilisers, syngas derivatives, projects.
hydrogen, petrochemicals and SNG technologies. Guido Collodi has published several papers on IGCC,
Before joining Wood (formerly Amec Foster Wheeler) in gasification, hydrogen and flue gas treatment and
2006, Guido spent his career in the process department gained his degree in Chemical Engineering from
of Snamprogetti (now Saipem), entrusted with inorganic University of Pisa, Italy, in 1979.
chemical plants such as hydrogen, ammonia, methanol

IndustrIal Plants - May 2018
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