News

Accelerating the uptake of biomethane as a fuel source

Biogas energy plant in a corn field

Creating a metrological infrastructure to monitor biomethane for use in transportation and gas networks

The conformity assessment of biomethane – methane produced through the fermentation of organic matter – requires further standardisation in order to support Europe’s green energy future.

Completed Metrology Partnership project Protocol for SI-traceable validation of methods for biomethane conformity assessment (21NRM04, BiometCAP) focused on developing accessible traceability with efficient and cost-effective methods for the preparation of traceable gas transfer standards for the performance evaluation of biomethane monitoring systems. This protocol can be used to evaluate commercially available gas analysers used in both the laboratory and the field.

Specific project outputs include:

Fit-for-purpose biomethane conformity assessment measurement services to be provided by National Metrology Institutes, Designated Institutes and testing laboratories to industries, research organisations and other end-users. These services include a) calibration gas mixtures b) calibration and measurement facilities and services c) performance evaluation of gas analysers; d) direct characterisation of biomethane quality in the field; e) proficiency testing; f) consultancy and g) training.
Input to ISO/TC193/SC1 ‘WG25 Biomethane’ in the form of a New Work Item Proposal entitled ‘Gas analysis - Biomethane - Protocol for the performance evaluation of gas analysers used for biomethane conformity assessment with a validated protocol for the sampling, analysis and performance evaluation of gas analysers’ which has been submitted to the WG for consideration as a new ISO standard. The performance evaluation of industrial gas analysers, conducted during the project, can significantly enhance measurement capabilities for industries. This evaluation allows for the tailoring of measurement standards to the specific needs of the industry, ultimately promoting wider adoption of these standards.
Instrument (e.g. gas analysers) and sensor manufacturers now have access on the project´s website (until the protocol becomes an ISO standard) to a performance assessment protocol Good practice guide on ensuring the reproducible application of the developed biomethane performance assessment protocol. This can be used to benchmark products and during the product development process as a means of quality control. This established protocol, based on SI-traceable validation of measurement systems, enables industries to verify equipment performance, ensure biomethane quality, and develop tailored solutions like new gas analysers.
The results of the project have been shared with CEN TC408 WG1, which is currently revising the EN 16723 standards. The goal is to potentially incorporate the new standard into the updated EN 16723 if the timing aligns with the revision process. This will ensure that the project's findings can contribute to the main standardisation efforts for biomethane.

Laboratories, research organisations and academia are now able to use the state-of-the-art gas transfer standards and the performance assessment protocol developed within this project to perform further research within the biomethane purity area to support the development of new biomethane measurement technologies. Using the outcomes from this project, their performance will be able to be traceably quantified to the International System of Units, the SI.

This work will accelerate the uptake of biomethane as a fuel source, increasing the safety and efficiency of its use through more widely applicable and cost-effective monitoring techniques.

Project coordinator Karine Arrhenius from RISE said

‘The BiometCAP project exemplified how collaborative research, metrology expertise, and industry-focused innovation can unlock practical solutions for renewable energy adoption. The project is strengthening biomethane measurement science - and paving the way for a more reliable and scalable renewable gas market across Europe.’

This Metrology Partnership project has received funding from the European Partnership on Metrology, co-financed by the European Union Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme and from the Participating States.

Want to hear more about EURAMET?