The regional work for the Limmattal Limeco received a visit from Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga. As the head of the Federal Department for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication (DETEC), she visited the first power-to-gas plant in Switzerland. Limeco is proud to build the first industrially operated power-to-gas plant and thus to make a significant contribution to the energy transition in Switzerland. The system, which is being built in cooperation with eight Swiss energy providers and Swisspower, will go into operation in winter 2021/22. It uses the resources of the existing waste recycling and wastewater treatment plant to generate storable CO2-Get neutral energy in the form of gas.
Power-to-gas guarantees environmentally friendly energy from waste and sewage
Switzerland’s Energy Strategy 2050 primarily focuses on the expansion of renewable energies and the storage of clean energy. Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga is very satisfied during her visit: “The future belongs to local renewable energies and innovative technologies such as power-to-gas systems and district heating networks like here in Dietikon near Limeco. They use existing waste and sewage sludge to generate energy and make storage easier. ” Power-to-gas is a key technology for networking electricity, gas, heat and mobility in a sustainable energy system. It uses the excess CO2 from the sewage gas obtained from wastewater treatment and uses the electricity generated during waste recycling to produce hydrogen. Microorganisms produce from the CO in a bioreactor2 and hydrogen, renewable green gas. In this way, Limeco gains a CO from waste and wastewater2-neutral energy source and thus optimizes the energy efficiency of the entire disposal system.
Power-to-gas offers many advantages
As a multi-energy hub, Limeco combines the various energy sources depending on the situation, makes energy storable and thus helps to close the winter power gap. This so-called sector coupling is becoming more and more important with the energy transition in order to guarantee energy security of supply. Patrik Feusi, Managing Director Limeco says: “We are proud that with our system we are making an important contribution to the energy transition in Switzerland and to an intact environment, the health of the population and the quality of life in the Limmat Valley.” Thanks to the power-to-gas system with an energy output of 18 GWh of renewable gas per year, around 4,000 – 5,000 tons of CO2– Avoided emissions per year, which corresponds to the annual emissions of around 2,000 households.
Model for other plants in Switzerland
Limeco is sponsored by the eight communities around Dietikon and, as a regional supply company in the Limmat Valley, Limeco focuses on renewable energy supply. In Dietikon, in partnership with eight Swiss energy providers and the municipal utility alliance Swisspower, it is implementing this first industrially operated power-to-gas system, which will be the largest of its kind in Switzerland to date. Ronny Kaufmann, CEO Swisspower AG, says: “Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga’s interest in the Limeco and Swisspower power-to-gas system shows how important municipal utilities are for the energy transition in Switzerland.” The project is funded by the Federal Office of Energy as part of its pilot and demonstration program, as well as by the Office for Waste, Water, Energy and Air of the Canton of Zurich and provides valuable knowledge for the expansion of the key technology throughout Switzerland.
Link to the project website
www.powertogas.ch
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