Electricity-based regenerative liquified natural gas (eLNG for short) will play an important role not only in Energy Transition but in climate-neutral power generation worldwide. Its major selling point is that it can be used to replace fossil gas in existing power networks, industrial plants and transport applications.

The technology to produce methane by combining green hydrogen (produced via electrolysis) with airborne carbon dioxide (CO2) has been around for a while. It was originally developed at The Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg ZSW; and now the same institute has been funded to develop a process chain for the production of the gas using renewable energy.

The ZSW has just received funding of EUR 800.000 from the state Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Housing for the project called “eLNG from Air”, to build a demonstration methanisation plant in order to explore methods of producing the CO2-neutral gas on an industrial scale. As part of the remit, the research team will explore export potential and new sales markets.

"For effective climate protection, we must continue to promote innovative ideas such as these. CO2-neutral gas can play an important role in future energy supply," said the Minister of Economic Affairs Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut in a press release.

The initial application of the technology until 2021 will be focused in how the gas can be adopted in the state of Baden-Württemberg using existing infrastructure and industrial partnerships. The long-term objective is to create the conditions for Germany to lead in the field of technological production of eLNG, so that the know-how can be exported around the world.