Bioelectrochemical Power-to-Gas: State of the Art and Future Perspectives.
Bioelectrochemical power-to-gas (BEP2G) is considered a potentially convenient way of storing renewable surplus electricity in the form of methane. In methane-producing bioelectrochemical systems (BESs), carbon dioxide and electrical energy are converted into methane, using electrodes that supply either electrons or hydrogen to methanogenic archaea. This review summarizes the performance of methane-producing BESs in relation to cathode potential, electrode materials, operational strategies, and inoculum. Analysis and estimation of energy input and production rates show that BEP2G may become an attractive alternative for thermochemical methanation, and biochemical methanogenesis. To determine if BEP2G can become a future power-to-gas technology, challenges relating to cathodic energy losses, choice of a suitable electron donor, efficient reactor design/operation, and experience with large reactors need to be overcome.
Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Osterfelder Strasse, 3, 46047 Oberhausen, Germany; Ruhr-University Bochum, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany. Electronic address: florian.geppert@umsicht.fraunhofer.de.
Florian
F
Geppert
Wageningen University, Sub-Department of Environmental Technology, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Dandan
D
Liu
Wageningen University, Sub-Department of Environmental Technology, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands; HAS University of Applied Sciences, Onderwijsboulevard 221, 5223 DE 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.
Mieke
M
van Eerten-Jansen
Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Osterfelder Strasse, 3, 46047 Oberhausen, Germany; Ruhr-University Bochum, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
Eckhard
E
Weidner
Wageningen University, Sub-Department of Environmental Technology, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Cees
C
Buisman
Wageningen University, Sub-Department of Environmental Technology, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Annemiek
A
Ter Heijne
D001105:Archaea / Q000378:metabolism; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004566:Electrodes; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008697:Methane
Biocathode; Bioelectrochemical power-to-gas; Bioelectrochemical systems; Methane; Methanogenic archaea