MITNETZ GAS Starts Test Operation of new Biomethane Injection Facility

Mitteldeutsche Netzgesellschaft Gas mbH (MITNETZ GAS) is putting the biomethane injection facility (BGEA) in Neichen into test operation. The test phase will last a total of around two weeks and should be completed by the end of February. The facility will then go into regular operation and continuously feed biogas into MITNETZ GAS's high-pressure grid. During the test operation, MITNETZ GAS will also instruct firefighters in the plant in cooperation with the responsible fire and rescue authorities.

The biogas upgrading plant is operated by the Kupfer agricultural company. MITNETZ GAS constructed the grid connection, which also required crossing the Mulde river, between May and September 2024. MITNETZ GAS built a grid connection pipeline around 800 meters long, with a nominal diameter of 100 millimeters and a pressure rating of 16 bar. The total investment amounts to around 5 million euros.

The special feature of this facility is that the biogas upgrading plant (BGAA) already transfers the pressure to the BGEA that is required for feeding into the MITNETZ GAS high-pressure grid. This eliminates the need for the compressor plant and transformer station that normally belong to the BGEA. As part of the test operation, all system components are tested and adjusted. In addition, the functionality of all system components and interfaces will be verified for different feed-in quantities.

The new BGEA is the 17th plant in the MITNETZ GAS grid area and has a maximum feed-in capacity of 320 standard cubic meters per hour. In terms of annual work, this volume corresponds to the annual energy consumption of around 1,400 single-family homes.

MITNETZ GAS does not operate any biogas plants itself, but as a grid operator it is responsible for establishing the grid connection and feeding it into the grid. The raw biogas produced in the biogas plant is cleaned fully automatically in the BGAA before being transferred to the BGEA in order to remove substances such as sulphur and carbon dioxide. After measuring the quantity and determining the chemical composition, an odorizing agent with the characteristic pungent gas smell is added to the biogas. After a final control measurement, the biogas is then ready for injection. The processes in the biomethane injection facility are supervised by the calibration authority.

After a decline in biogas production in recent years, there is now an increased demand for biogas feed-in in the MITNETZ GAS grid area due to changes in the political and regulatory framework.