ORBIT II
Expansion of a highly efficient trickle bed bioreactor and optimization of the methanation plant for commercial industrial use
Expansion of a highly efficient trickle bed bioreactor and optimization of the methanation plant for commercial industrial use
ORBIT II
Under the umbrella of the research project "Expansion of a highly efficient trickle bed bioreactor and optimization of the methanation plant for commercial industrial use", the work on biological methanation carried out in the ORBIT project is being continued. Under the leadership of FENES, the universities in Regensburg and Erlangen-Nuremberg and the industrial partners Schott, Ostermeier H2ydrogen Solutions, Electrochaea, MicrobEnergy, MicroPyros, Bürgerenergiegenossenschaft im Landkreis Pfaffenhofen a. d. Ilm and Stadtwerke Pfaffenhofen are working on the further development of the trickle bed bioreactor in the project, which is funded by the BMWK until 2025.
The aim of the project is to expand a trickle-bed bioreactor for biological methanation with archaea to include an electrolyzer, gas treatment and gas storage, including the necessary peripherals. The reactor will be tested with different industrial gases and finally integrated into a sewage treatment plant and operated there.
At OTH Regensburg, the existing trickle bed bioreactor from ORBIT will initially be expanded in close cooperation with the partners and the transport options for the entire plant will be improved. The ORBIT-Demo plant is to be designed as an easily transportable container for this purpose. The plant will then be tested extensively at the Regensburg site. This will allow the dynamic range and flexibility options to be determined under controlled conditions.
At the same time, various cultures and fillers are tested with industrial gases in the microbiology laboratory at the University of Regensburg and in a downscale of the system (ORBIT-Twin) produced at FAU. The most promising combinations will then be tested in ORBIT-Demo. With the field test in Pfaffenhofen, the OTH wants to demonstrate the successful integration of ORBIT-Demo in an industrial environment. The economic efficiency of this system will be demonstrated and any necessary limit values and framework conditions for economic use will be determined. The identification of potential PtG sites for biological methanation is intended to remove obstacles for stakeholders and project planners in particular in order to promote the rollout of the technology.
The project partners are pleased to be able to continue the successful work from ORBIT with this project and thus bring biological methanation in the trickle bed bioreactor one step closer to the commercial use of the technology. In this way, the consortium aims to make a contribution to the energy transition.
Project Partners
OTH Regensburg: Research Center for Energy Networks and Energy Storage (FENES)
University of Regensburg: Archaea Center
Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg: Chair of Energy Process Engineering
Ostermeier H2ydrogen Solutions GmbH
Schott AG (Landshut site)
Associated partners:
Electrochaea GmbH
Hitachi Zosen INOVA Schmack GmbH
MicroPyros BioEnerTec GmbH
Bürgerenergiegenossenschaft im Landkreis Pfaffenhofen a.d. Ilm eG
Kommunalunternehmen Stadtwerke Pfaffenhofen a. d. Ilm
Project management: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Sterner
Project duration: 12/2021 - 08/2025
Funding amount: approx. 1.87 million €
Project homepage: ORBIT II
