Across Europe, the growing demand for sustainable, low-impact energy solutions is driving rapid growth in the biogas industry. By 2024, the global biogas market had surpassed a value of $29 billion USD, with Europe playing a leading role in this expansion. Europe, and its neighbouring countries, boasts significant biomass potential for producing biomethane, a renewable and clean alternative to fossil fuels. Currently, 25 countries are actively engaged in biomethane production, and projections for 2030 to 2050 suggest a highly promising future for the sector, fuelled by innovation, policy support, and a shared commitment to climate goals.
Billion Cubic Metres (bcm)
Source: European Biogas Association 2024 Activity Report
Recent figures show, Europe is home to over 20,000 biogas plants. Germany is leading the way as the country with the highest number, hosting around 9,500 facilities. Biogas has become a crucial pillar in the continent’s renewable energy strategy, offering not only a sustainable source of electricity and heat but also a pathway toward a circular economy by recycling organic waste.
The future of biogas is promising, especially with growing interest in biomethane, a purified form of biogas that can be injected into natural gas grids or used as a vehicle fuel. Countries including Denmark, the Netherlands, and France are making significant strides, with Denmark aiming to make biomethane 100% of its gas consumption by 2040. Technological innovations, such as integrated CO2 capture, smart digesters, and co-digestion of multiple feedstocks, are pushing the sector forward, highlighting biogas not only as a transitional energy but as a long-term solution in the decarbonisation of Europe’s energy systems.
What Are the Advantages of Biogas and Biomethane?
Biogas and biomethane offer a range of environmental and economic benefits by turning local organic waste into renewable energy. In addition to energy production, the process enables the recovery and reuse of valuable by-products, contributing to a more circular and sustainable economy.
Biogas and biomethane offer a range of key benefits that make them essential to a sustainable future. By capturing methane during organic decomposition, these systems significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They also produce a nutrient-rich digestate that enhances soil health and reduces reliance on synthetic fertilisers, promoting more sustainable agriculture. As clean, renewable energy sources, biogas and biomethane can replace fossil fuels in electricity, heating, and transportation. Beyond environmental advantages, their production stimulates local economies by creating green jobs and strengthening supply chains – already employing 230,000 people in Europe, with projections to increase seven-fold by 2050.
What Role Can Activated Carbons Play in a Biogas Plant?
Activated carbon is widely used in biogas applications to purify and upgrade biogas by removing contaminants and impurities that can compromise equipment and reduce the quality of the gas. It is a critical component in modern biogas treatment systems, contributing to cleaner energy production and enhancing the operational efficiency of biogas facilities.
In biogas applications, activated carbon is primarily used to remove harmful contaminants, such as:
Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S) Removal
Hydrogen sulphide is highly corrosive and can damage engines, pipelines, and other infrastructure used in biogas utilisation. Additionally, H₂S is toxic and poses health and safety risks, making its removal essential for both environmental protection and safe energy production
Siloxanes
Siloxanes can form abrasive compounds during combustion, including silica that damage engines, turbines, and other mechanical components. These substances can lead to increased maintenance costs and reduce the overall efficiency and lifespan of energy conversion systems.
Terpenes/VOCs
Terpenes and other volatile organic compounds could be present in biogas, especially from food and waste digestion. They can cause strong odors, contribute to air pollution, and can have a negative impact on sealings or membranes. Removing terpenes and other VOCs improves your biogas quality, reduces environmental impact, and enhances its usability for energy applications.
Ammonia (NH3)
Ammonia removal in biogas treatments is essential to prevent issues such as corrosion and catalyst poisoning in downstream processes. Activated carbon can help you to effectively eliminate ammonia from the biogas stream. This not only improves the overall quality and energy content of the biogas but also ensures safer and more sustainable operation of the treatment system.
Odour Control
Odorous compounds, for example, organic sulphur compounds, and VOCs can pose health risks, cause unpleasant smells, and reduce the quality and marketability of the biogas.
A Note on Gas Upgrading
By using activated carbon as a pre-treatment step to remove harmful trace contaminants mentioned above, the biogas is purified before entering the upgrading system. This pre-treatment step is indispensable for efficient operation, extended equipment life, and a production of high-quality biomethane suitable for grid injection or vehicle fuel use.
Types of Activated Carbon That Can be Used for Purification of Biogas
- Impregnated and doped Activated Carbon:Impregnated activated carbon is activated carbon that has undergone specific treatment with chemicals to enhance its adsorption or reactivity with regard to certain pollutants. This process is known as impregnation and involves introducing soluble salts or oxides into the pore structure of the carbon. After drying, these active substances remain firmly within or on the surface of the carbon, enabling the targeted removal of substances such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Doped activated carbon on the other hand is characterised by the incorporation of active substances into its structure. Unlike impregnation, doping modifies the carbon’s electronic and chemical properties at a molecular level. This modification usually occurs during production or through targeted chemical treatment.
- Non impregnated virgin Activated Carbon:Virgin, non-impregnated activated carbon is a pure, highly porous carbon-based material with a large internal surface area (up to 1000 m²/g or more). It is produced by thermal decomposition of organic raw materials in the absence of oxygen, followed by activation (usually with steam). Its effect is based exclusively on physical adsorption, in which molecules adhere to the surface through van der Waals force. It is particularly effective in removing organic compounds, but less suitable for reactive or polar substances such as hydrogen sulfide, as it does not contain any chemically active additives.
- Reactivated Carbon:Reactivated carbon is used activated carbon that has been regenerated by thermal treatment in an oxygen-free process. During this process, the substances previously adsorbed are removed at high temperatures (typically 800–900 °C) and the carbon’s pore structure is largely restored. The physical adsorption capacity is retained. Like virgin activated carbon, reactivated carbon works exclusively through physical adsorption and contains no additional chemical additives. Reactivated carbon is a cost-effective and sustainable solution for biogas purification. Its reuse supports circular economy principles by reducing waste and minimising the need for virgin materials.
- Benefits of Using Activated Carbon in Biogas:Cost-Effective: Offers a relatively low-cost solution for improving biogas quality. Efficiency: Highly effective in removing a wide range of contaminants. Scalability: Suitable for both small-scale and industrial-scale biogas plants. Activated carbons possess an exceptionally high internal porosity and so have excellent adsorption potential. Surface areas exceed 1,000 m2 per gram meaning that just three grams provides the surface area of an entire football field. Activated carbons enable an excellent and effective all-around solution for purifying biogas and biomethane, while impregnated or doped activated carbons are specially formulated to target and remove specific contaminants with high efficiency. The below table shows which of our product range are typically used in each application.
How Does Jacobi Work with Biogas Plants Throughout Europe?
By using activated carbon as a pre-treatment step to remove harmful trace contaminants mentioned above, the biogas is purified before entering the upgrading system. This pre-treatment step is indispensable for efficient operation, extended equipment life, and a production of high-quality biomethane suitable for grid injection or vehicle fuel use.
Activated Carbon Products For Biogas
| Function | Product | Carbon Type | Raw Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| H2S | AddSorb VA6-BG (granular/pellets) | Virgin, alkaline metal impregnated | Coal |
| AddSorb VA12-BG (granular/pellets) | Virgin, halogenet impregnated | Coal | |
| AddSorb OX 20 (pellets only), AddSorb OX30 (pellets only) | Virgin, doped | Coconut | |
| AddSorb VA10 (pellets only) | Virgin, alkaline metal impregnated | Coal | |
| NH3 | AddSorb VB1-BG (granular/pellets) | Virgin, acid impregnated | Coal |
| AddSorb AM25 (granular only) | Virgin, acid impregnated | Coconut | |
| VOC SILOXANES TERPENES | EcoSorb BS (granular/pellets) | Virgin | Coal |
| EcoSorb GXC (granular/pellets) | Virgin | Coal | |
| ReSorb VT (granular/pellets) | Reactivated | Coal |
Mobile Filter Units for Biogas Plants
Within an operating Biogas plant, you can see below where our Jacobi MFU (Mobile Filter Unit) is installed for a treatment phase.
Product Quality
Security of supply
Product testing
We have internal laboratories at our facilities in France and Germany. This allows us to monitor our production with frequent analysis to ensure that our customers will receive a high standard product that will meet the expectations of the different applications in biogas.
Best Practice in Choosing the Optimal Solution
Carbon Specifications
Jacobi invented an intelligent calculation tool which is used by our biogas application experts and our sales team has been trained to use this tool as well. As per the existing conditions for the required treatment, our team can calculate the exact specifications, volume of activated carbon, the size, and the type, as well as the required flow rate and suitable mobile filter if needed to achieve excellent performance results. Every biogas treatment is unique, and it needs to be taken case by case, and so our team considers all parameters when finding the best solution.
Logistics Considerations
We can deliver the material in big bags or small bags on pallets in standard trucks, or we can deliver the chosen carbon with the suitable mobile filter unit. In this case, we will take all necessary measures to ensure safe delivery and collection, as well as time-saving and safe installation of the filter. In order to fulfil our sustainability promise, we always look for the shortest and most environmentally friendly delivery routes.
Mobile Filter Units
In addition to activated carbon, Jacobi can also provide various mobile filter units in many sizes and with different features depending on the application. We are as flexible as the needs of our customers. Whatever our customers may require, whether that’s a filter prefilled with activated carbon or simply just the carbon or filter, we can provide the solution.
Quick Mobile Filter Turnaround
Our service team works quickly and efficiently to ensure timely delivery and, once the carbon is saturated, will return to handle the spent media. We know the importance of our customers’ time and so we plan visits in advance, usually conducting them within 30 minutes, minimising plant disruption as much as possible.
Technical Support
Here at Jacobi we have a team of air and gas experts. Your initial contact will be through our sales team, however, it’s the technical experts who become your point of contact and assist in solving any problems you might encounter.
Performance Testing
We keep in constant contact with our customers to monitor the treatment progress, performance and results. Based on this monitoring and data, we are then able to identify any problems, or potential problems, and make adjustments where needed.
Whatever your biogas needs, when it comes to treatment with activated carbon, our team is on hand to help. Contact us on info@jacobi.net and one of our experts will be in touch.