Syngas from renewable hydrogen: production without fossil feedstocks

BioMCN, based in Groningen, is part of OCI, a chemical group that aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030 and to become carbon neutral by 2050. The company is choosing a future with products based on syngas. This means it will no longer be dependent on primary fossil feedstocks — a strategic decision also influenced by the current and projected high natural gas prices in Northwest Europe. BioMCN aims to replace syngas production via its Steam Methane Reformer (SMR) with the direct import of green hydrogen and biogenic carbon dioxide.

Syngas from renewable hydrogen: goals and actions

With this environmental and engineering study, BioMCN aims to gain more insight into the technical feasibility, efficiency, energy and heat balances, and CO₂ emissions reduction that could be achieved if the current SMR is replaced by a process using direct input of green hydrogen and biogenic carbon dioxide. BioMCN is also assessing the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental effects. This information is necessary to conduct a more in-depth technical study in a follow-up project.

For this project, BioMCN is carrying out a feasibility study to assess expected operational performance and material requirements. Based on three different scenarios, the company will estimate the costs of replacing the current SMR with syngas production using green hydrogen and biogenic carbon dioxide. This will enable the calculation of key financial indicators that are important for the subsequent basic engineering study and final investment decision. As part of this project, BioMCN will also calculate the estimated CO₂ emissions reduction compared to the current natural gas-based production method.

Results

The project is intended to support a well-informed decision to move forward with the basic engineering phase and, ultimately, to demonstrate emissions-free syngas-based production.

The syngas from renewable hydrogen consortium

The consortium consists of: BioMethanol Chemie Nederland.