91社区 today announces it will co-develop with Xebec Adsorption Inc. (TSXV: XBC) a prototype reactor to produce Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) using the Power-to-Gas (P2G) process which combines electricity generated by renewable sources and CO2 generated from waste. The project is being partially funded by a Collaborative Research and Development grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The value of the grant is $360,000 for a period of three years.
Electricity generation from renewable energy sources (e.g., wind and solar) is increasing worldwide. In 2016, the installed wind power in Canada was ~12,000 MW (6% of the electricity demand), with Quebec and Ontario having the highest share1. However, wind energy is fluctuating and intermittent; therefore, energy storage becomes very important to not only bridge the temporal, but also the geographical gap between energy supply and demand.
The P2G process offers a much larger storage capacity and discharge time than technologies currently in use, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage. The P2G process uses renewable electricity to produce hydrogen via water electrolysis which is then further converted into RNG (i.e., methane) using the carbon dioxide captured from municipal waste. Thus, the already existing gas distribution infrastructure and mature end-use technology can be fully utilized to alleviate energy storage issues posed by renewable energy systems. The prototype reactor will have an output of 0.3 to 0.5 kW, with plans to scale up the project in a second phase.
Reducing greenhouse gas
The Canadian Gas Association has set a target of 5% RNG-blended natural gas in the pipeline distribution system by 2025 and 10% by 2030 across Canada. Nationally, the increased RNG content would result in 14 megatonnes (MT) of greenhouse gas emission reductions per year by 2030, equivalent to removing 3 million passenger cars from the road. In Quebec, The R茅gie de l鈥檈nergie has proposed a target of 1% RNG to be distributed by 2020 and 5% by 2025.
鈥淭he Power-to-Gas process has been proven extensively in other markets but there is a real lack of this technology here in Canada that must be filled,鈥� said Professor Jan Kopyscinski, Department of Chemical Engineering and Principal Investigator on the project. 鈥淲e are looking forward to a successful partnership with Xebec for the realization of this project which has the potential to have a dramatic impact on greenhouse gas reduction in Quebec and Canada.鈥�
鈥淐ollaboration with industry is a key strategic goal for our Faculty and this project exemplifies our approach,鈥� said Professor Jim Nicell, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. 鈥淚n so doing, we are positioning the Faculty to become an active player in the struggle to make our world a more sustainable one.鈥�
Capturing and converting carbon dioxide
鈥淲e are delighted to be working with Dr. Jan Kopyscinski on the development of a cost effective methanizing reactor,鈥� said Dr. Prabhu Rao, Chief Operating Officer, Xebec Adsorption Inc. 鈥淢ethanization is one viable way of capturing carbon dioxide and converting it to renewable gas. This is especially relevant in Quebec where low cost renewable electric power is a great enabler for the generation of hydrogen needed for the methanization reaction. This research program will focus on achieving high performance while being sensitive to the commercial requirements of cost and size as Xebec continues to develop a portfolio of renewable fuel product offerings.鈥�
鈥淣SERC鈥檚 Collaborative Research and Development Grants create and support partnerships that economically, socially and environmentally benefit Canadians,鈥� said Dr. Marc Fortin, Vice-President, Research Partnerships at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. 鈥淲ith the use of renewable energy on the rise, the continued collaboration between Dr. Kopyscinski and Xebec will generate fundamental knowledge and help develop technology that could significantly shape the energy storage market in Canada.鈥�
About Xebec Adsorption Inc.
Xebec Adsorption Inc. is a global provider of gas generation, purification and filtration solutions for the industrial, energy and renewables marketplace. Its customers range from small to multi-national corporations and governments looking to reduce their carbon footprints. Headquartered in Montreal (QC), Xebec designs, engineers and manufactures innovative and transformative products, and has more than 1,500 customers worldwide. With two manufacturing facilities in Montreal and Shanghai, as well as
a sales and distribution network in North America, Europe, and Asia, Xebec trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XBC. For additional information on the company, its products and services, visit Xebec at聽
About The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) NSERC invests over $1.2 billion each year in natural sciences and engineering research in Canada. Our investments deliver discoveries鈥攙aluable world-firsts in knowledge claimed by a brain trust of over 11,000 professors. Our investments enable partnerships and collaborations that connect industry with discoveries and the people behind them. Researcher-industry partnerships established by NSERC help inform research and development and solve scale-up challenges. NSERC also provides scholarships and hands-on training experience for more than 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows. These young researchers will be the next generation of science and engineering leaders in Canada. Find out more at the聽.听
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