New sources of energy have taken their place in the energy mix: biomethane from anaerobic digestion is experiencing strong growth.
Others will take their place in the future: gases from pyrogasification, hydrothermal gasification and Power to Gas (hydrogen and synthetic methane…) Their ecological assets are many: waste reduction, circular economy and harnessing of local resources.
With the energy transition, connection to the networks of these renewable gas production modes needs to be optimized, leading to a multi-energy approach, including gas and electricity, where the balance between centralized and decentralized systems plays a key role.
At RICE, we are committed to a more sustainable and climate-neutral energy mix.
RICE has an impressive R&D&I portfolio dedicated to the integration of renewable and low-carbon gases into the networks, with support from its laboratories located at the Sites of Villeneuve-la-Garenne, Alfortville and Fos sur mer (Jupiter 1000 demonstrator) as well as a network of partners.
Around renewable methanes
Our program “Preparing networks for the arrival of renewable methanes”
Renewable methanes, such as biomethane, are a key element in ensuring a successful energy and ecological transition, in line with the objectives of France and Europe. RICE is developing projects to speed up the optimization of production processes while controlling impacts and maximizing the volumes of renewable and low-carbon gas that can be routed through the networks.
Our teams are working on two lines of research:
Optimizing gas infrastructures to reduce routing cost and control the impacts of the new methanes:
RICE is conducting research projects to ensure the harmlessness of the new gases before they are injected into the grids, particularly through its expertise in gas analysis, while optimizing transmission costs.
Learn about our renewable gas analysis expertise: watch the video
Supporting the development of new methane production processes for industrial rollout and upstream flexibility:
RICE supports an ecosystem of partners to ensure compliance between network specifications and the quality of gases that are already being produced and may be produced in the future through various energy conversion processes (anaerobic digestion, pyrogasification, hydrothermal gasification, methanation).
Discover one of our projects: watch the video
Around hydrogen
Our program “Preparing networks for the arrival of hydrogen”
Hydrogen as energy carrier provides new solutions, in addition to the control of energy consumption and the development of renewable sources. Beyond deploying the means of producing this hydrogen and developing its uses, the need is also to prepare the adaptation and development of gas chain infrastructures for transporting the hydrogen gases or pure hydrogen.
Our teams are working on two lines of research:
Ensuring the safety and integrity of assets in the presence of hydrogen:
RICE’s work aims to understand the specifics of the hydrogen molecule (H2), including its interaction with networks, for both structural materials and equipment, and to adapt the operating methods to maintain the expected level of industrial safety.
Maintaining the quality of the gas transport mission (functional and regulatory):
The integration of hydrogen into the networks will require many changes in network equipment and modes of operation and in control and metering equipment, as well as the development of smarter and more decentralized networks. RICE aims to support industrial operators in development and R&D work prior to the adaptations and upgrades needed to make the gas chain a central part of tomorrow’s energy world.
With this in mind, RICE is cooperating with French infrastructure operators and their European peers by developing the FenHYx platform,which features state-of-the-art test facilities specifically dedicated to hydrogen, intended to be a benchmark in Europe.
