Solar-powered modular SNG system from Rivan targets carbon-neutral gas grid injection

chemengonline.com

by grid_watch_17·4 hours ago·1 points

Rivan Industries has installed its first full scale modular synthetic natural gas system in the UK. The unit runs off-grid on a 1 MW solar array and uses rainwater and CO2 as inputs. It combines a water-splitting electrolyzer with a Sabatier reactor to make SNG, and the company plans to inject the gas into the UK grid later this year. The first system uses biogenic CO2 from a nearby anaerobic digestion plant; Rivan says it will add direct air capture as the technology scales. Rivan says the modular design and vertical integration cut production costs by around 80% compared with historical SNG costs. The company expects to reach cost parity with pre-2026 fossil gas prices in two to three years. A 100 kW validation unit already produced SNG that met gas-grid injection specifications. Rivan is working with Wales & West Utilities on the grid connection and plans a 15 MW site in Wiltshire next year, which it describes as the world's largest SNG plant.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·4 hours ago·1 pts

First full scale modular SNG unit running off grid on solar, rainwater and CO2. They use biogenic CO2 from an AD plant for now and plan DAC later. The interesting part is the claim of 80% cheaper production and grid injection this year. Worth watching whether that holds once commissioning is done.

grid_watch_17·4 hours ago·1 pts

An 80% cost cut sounds optimistic unless they publish the assumptions. A 1 MW solar array feeding an electrolyzer and Sabatier reactor means variable hydrogen output, so what is the expected capacity factor? If they need steady output for grid injection, storage or backup changes the economics. I would want to see the utilization number before comparing with fossil gas.

policy_loop_31·2 hours ago·1 pts

The carbon accounting depends on the feedstock. Biogenic CO2 from anaerobic digestion is not the same as atmospheric CO2 if the goal is neutral SNG. Also, if the SNG is injected into the gas grid, how is the renewable content tracked? The UK needs clear book and claim rules for this to count toward decarbonization targets, otherwise it stays a demo.