Electric-utility operators often face the challenge of managing excess renewable electricity supply to prevent grid overload. In California alone, over 1.5 million megawatt hours of renewable electricity were curtailed in 2020, a quantity sufficient to power more than 100,000 households for a year.
This issue is not unique to California, as similar practices occur globally. However, a breakthrough technology developed by a team offers a promising solution. Their electrobioreactor utilizes surplus renewable electricity to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen. Subsequently, microbes are employed to convert carbon dioxide into methane, a primary component of natural gas. This methane can be seamlessly integrated into existing natural gas pipelines and stored indefinitely, enabling the retrieval of renewable energy when demand is high.
Simon Pang, a materials scientist leading the project at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), emphasizes the significance of this innovation in facilitating the decarbonization of natural gas grid infrastructure. By harnessing renewable sources, such as biogas, to produce pipeline-quality renewable natural gas, the technology not only meets green-energy demands but also mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and enhances local air quality.
LLNL’s expertise in engineering flow electrochemical devices and additive manufacturing of electrolyzer components forms the foundation of this pioneering project. By combining an electrolyzer and bioreactor into a single device, researchers anticipate achieving higher energy efficiency and performance while streamlining production processes.
Buddhinie Jayathilake, Laura Gutierrez, and Melinda Jue are among the LLNL researchers contributing to the project’s development.
Funded with $1 million from the Technology Commercialization Fund of the DOE Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office, along with $1 million in in-kind contributions or research funds from partners, this initiative represents a concerted effort to advance sustainable energy solutions.