RGC is developing the project to connect the second biomethane plant to gas networks

19/ 09/ 2022

In the first half of 2023, Regional Gas Company will connect the second biomethane plant to gas distribution networks in the Vinnytsia region. RGC Engineering started developing the pre-design concept for the biomethane plant of Yuzefo-Mykolaivska Biogas Company LLC. Production facilities are located at the sugar factory in the village of Mykhaylyn, Vinnytsia region. Several options for connecting the biomethane plant to gas networks have been explored. The capacity of the biomethane plant will reach 2,500 cubic meters per hour or almost 18 million cubic meters of biomethane per year. This is roughly equivalent to the consumption of 9,000 households or a small town. “The capacity of this biomethane project is so high that we are designing the construction of gas networks in several stages to connect this facility. We plan to combine the operational areas of three gas distribution stations at once, - says Nataliya Lyubchenko, Project Manager, RGC Engineering. – Altogether, more than 20 km of gas distribution networks will be built». The biomethane plant will be connected in several stages. The first stage involves the construction of a gas pipeline 1 km long. This will allow connecting the capacity of 100 cubic meters per hour of biomethane during the summer months and 500-600 cubic meters per hour during winter months. We observe the revival of investors interest in the reconstruction and conversion of biogas stations into biomethane plants and their connection to gas distribution networks throughout Ukraine. This is already the second project to connect the biomethane plant this year. We have been working on a number of other projects at the same time, says Ihor Gotsyk, Head of Decarbonization, RGC. In the future, we are talking about constructing 15 km of gas pipeline and putting the operational areas of several gas distribution stations (GDS) in a loop. During the second stage, it is planned to increase the connection capacity to 500 cubic meters per hour in the summer, and in winter, the plant will be able to work at its full capacity, up to 2,500 cubic meters per hour. To this end, another 10 km of gas pipelines will be built. The third stage will allow increasing the amount of biomethane injected into gas distribution networks in the summer up to 1,000 cubic meters per hour following the construction of another gas pipeline. For us, the transition from using biogas to produce electricity to biomethane production is a compelling move in terms of investments. This will allow supplying the entire area with biomethane throughout the year, replacing the natural gas. During the war, we invested in the supply of a modular amine plant for the enrichment of biogas to biomethane by UTC, an Ukrainian-Dutch company. In the future, we are considering a gradual increase in the gas network connection capacity. Within two years, we will increase it almost five-fold. This will significantly affect the payback period of our project, said Oleg Dzhuryk, CEO, Yuzefo-Mykolaivska Biogas Company LLC. Most factories in Ukraine now use biogas to produce electricity and thermal energy for their own consumption. When burning biogas, about 50% of its energy value is lost. When producing biomethane, similar losses amount to a mere 7-10%. Consequently, the upgrade of biogas to biomethane will improve the overall economics of the projects, while the existing gas prices and the possibility of selling “green” biomethane, including to the EU, will justify investments in the projects for constructing biomethane plants and connecting to gas distribution networks.

In the first half of 2023, Regional Gas Company will connect the second biomethane plant to gas distribution networks in the Vinnytsia region.

RGC Engineering started developing the pre-design concept for the biomethane plant of Yuzefo-Mykolaivska Biogas Company LLC. Production facilities are located at the sugar factory in the village of Mykhaylyn, Vinnytsia region. Several options for connecting the biomethane plant to gas networks have been explored. The capacity of the biomethane plant will reach 2,500 cubic meters per hour or almost 18 million cubic meters of biomethane per year. This is roughly equivalent to the consumption of 9,000 households or a small town.

“The capacity of this biomethane project is so high that we are designing the construction of gas networks in several stages to connect this facility. We plan to combine the operational areas of three gas distribution stations at once, – says Nataliya Lyubchenko, Project Manager, RGC Engineering. – Altogether, more than 20 km of gas distribution networks will be built».

The biomethane plant will be connected in several stages. The first stage involves the construction of a gas pipeline 1 km long. This will allow connecting the capacity of 100 cubic meters per hour of biomethane during the summer months and 500-600 cubic meters per hour during winter months.

“We observe the revival of investors’ interest in the reconstruction and conversion of biogas stations into biomethane plants and their connection to gas distribution networks throughout Ukraine. This is already the second project to connect the biomethane plant this year. We have been working on a number of other projects at the same time,” says Ihor Gotsyk, Head of Decarbonization, RGC.

In the future, we are talking about constructing 15 km of gas pipeline and putting the operational areas of several gas distribution stations (GDS) in a loop. During the second stage, it is planned to increase the connection capacity to 500 cubic meters per hour in the summer, and in winter, the plant will be able to work at its full capacity, up to 2,500 cubic meters per hour. To this end, another 10 km of gas pipelines will be built. The third stage will allow increasing the amount of biomethane injected into gas distribution networks in the summer up to 1,000 cubic meters per hour following the construction of another gas pipeline.

“For us, the transition from using biogas to produce electricity to biomethane production is a compelling move in terms of investments. This will allow supplying the entire area with biomethane throughout the year, replacing the natural gas. During the war, we invested in the supply of a modular amine plant for the enrichment of biogas to biomethane by UTC, an Ukrainian-Dutch company. In the future, we are considering a gradual increase in the gas network connection capacity. Within two years, we will increase it almost five-fold. This will significantly affect the payback period of our project,” said Oleg Dzhuryk, CEO, Yuzefo-Mykolaivska Biogas Company LLC.

Most factories in Ukraine now use biogas to produce electricity and thermal energy for their own consumption. When burning biogas, about 50% of its energy value is lost. When producing biomethane, similar losses amount to a mere 7-10%. Consequently, the upgrade of biogas to biomethane will improve the overall economics of the projects, while the existing gas prices and the possibility of selling “green” biomethane, including to the EU, will justify investments in the projects for constructing biomethane plants and connecting to gas distribution networks.