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Work supporting the introduction of biogas into Europe's gas networks has won the first European Biogas Association Poster Award

Declining natural gas resources and renewable energy targets are driving interest in biogas, produced from decomposing organic matter. Biogas can be mixed with natural gas and introduced into existing pipelines but impurities, such as silicon, introduced by the initial waste material can lead to problems. 

European standards are currently in development which will specify the maximum permitted level of total silicon in biogas intended for Europe's gas networks. As part of EMRP project Metrology for Biogas (ENG54 Biogas), partner NPL is developing the measurement techniques needed to enforce this legislation, provide confidence in quality control for biogas and support its safe and effective introduction into Europe's gas networks.

NPL is establishing a facility that will measure the total silicon content of a biogas sample with unprecedented accuracy - at low parts-per-billion level, addressing current measurement requirements. The facility is currently being validated using NPL's high-accuracy biogas reference standards.

Lucy Culleton of NPL was awarded the first European Biogas Association Poster Award for this research following a vote of the conference participants, made up of experts from across academia, industry and the European Commission and Parliament.