Promising wind-power-to-methane technology took a major step forward this past spring when a European utility began injecting hydrogen-produced methane into its gas pipeline networks.
Germany’s Uniper is producing “green” hydrogen through a power-to-gas process, running wind power through water to split it into hydrogen and oxygen. Next, a methanation process adds carbon dioxide from a bioethanol plant to create biomethane, with qualities identical to natural gas.
According to a statement by the utility, “Green methane can be used in many ways, for example as a fuel, to generate heat and electricity in power plants or at home, and as a raw material for the chemical industry.”