SoCalGas collaborates with Electrochaea and LLNL on RNG technology

Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) has joined forces with Electrochaea and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) on a project to develop a single-stage electro-bioreactor capable of transforming surplus renewable electricity and biogas into renewable natural gas (RNG), it said on March 19.

This approach promises to play a role in decarbonising natural gas infrastructure across various sectors, from residential heating to manufacturing and transportation, the company stated.

SoCalGas has also provided essential funding, complemented by a $1mn grant from the Department of Energy (DOE). Jawaad Malik, SoCalGas's Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, said the technology aligns with California's vision of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.

The proposed technology harnesses a hybrid bioreactor and electrolyzer system pioneered by Electrochaea, leveraging their proprietary microbial biocatalyst. This system is adept at consuming hydrogen and carbon dioxide, yielding RNG as its end product. Notably, RNG produced through this process seamlessly integrates into existing infrastructure, offering a practical solution to meet the escalating demand for green energy.

"This renewable natural gas can be moved and used in existing infrastructure, allowing the technology to be deployed soon to meet green energy demand," Simon Pang, a materials scientist at LLNL spearheading the project, said.

Over the course of a two-year project, the team aims to streamline the electrolysis and methanation processes into a single unit, enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and facilitating widespread deployment to meet the surging demand for green energy.