Lahti Power-to-Gas project - project by Nordic Ren-Gas - eNRG Lahti

Introduction

The eNRG Lahti project, implemented by the Finnish clean energy developer Nordic Ren-Gas Oy and its affiliated eNRG Lahti Oy, Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created for this project, will be one of the first large-scale projects in Europe to commercially produce and utilise hydrogen categorised as renewable fuel of non-biological origin (RFNBO) for methane production.

Project Overview

The project will build a power-to-gas plant for RFNBO hydrogen production using renewable energy supply from onshore wind sources. The renewable electricity for the eNRG Lahti project facility will be sourced through a combination of a Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) and a spot market-based contract.

1. The PPA will be provided by 100 megawatts (MWe) wind parks.
2. This structure will supply the facility with most of the renewable electricity needed for operation.
3. The project will procure the remainder of its energy supply from the wholesale market through grid connection.

Technology Assessment

An electrolyser of 90 MWe will be installed, and the project is assessing the possibilities of PEM and Alkaline technologies.

Integrated Production Process

The eNRG Lahti project is an integrated project directly using within the same installations the produced RFNBO hydrogen to produce e-methane as the final product. For that purpose, the project captures the biogenic CO2 required in the project’s methanation process from the flue gases of a district heating system’s CHP plant, located nearby.

Applications and Benefits

The e-methane will be used to decarbonise maritime and heavy road transport sectors as well as in end-use segments in industrial applications. Moreover, as the production processes of hydrogen and e-methane create significant excess heat, this will be sold back to the CHP plant operator to be distributed to the local district heating network.