Methane Fuel Carrier Research and Development

Methane Fuel Carrier Research and Development

This research project investigates the production of synthetic methane as an exportable, renewable fuel, derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide and hydrogen produced from renewable sources.

Lead participants: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)	Classification: Research and development	Status: In progress	Estimated cost: AUD$2.17 million
Research partners:	Main supply chain category: Hydrogen carrier	Location: New South Wales, Australia	Announced funding: AUD$1.08 million – Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

Research description

This research project seeks to develop technology for the production of synthetic methane using atmospheric carbon dioxide and hydrogen produced from renewable sources.

The research would focus on the technology for efficient recovery of carbon dioxide from air and the integration of this process with the methane production process.

The research would develop liquid absorbent based technologies that recover carbon dioxide from the low concentration levels present in ambient air, requiring innovations in the liquid reagents for carbon dioxide and the gas/liquid contacting devices.

A second area of innovation is that the carbon dioxide recovery process would need to be optimally integrated with the methanation process that produces methane from carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

More details on the research, including contact information, can be found at the ARENA webpage for this project.

This research project was part of a suite of projects for which ARENA announced AUD$22.1 million of funding in September 2018.

 

This description was reviewed by the lead research participant in July 2020.