At our September Clean Mobility 411, Trevor Blattner from Consumers Energy introduced members to e-gas, also known as synthetic methane, and its potential role in Michigan’s clean fuels future.
E-gas is methane made by combining hydrogen with carbon dioxide. The process, called methanation, produces methane and water:
CO₂ + 4H₂ → CH₄ + 2H₂O
The result is the same chemical compound found in conventional natural gas, which means it can use much of the existing natural gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage systems.
E-gas leverages existing infrastructure
E-gas offers a potential way to use hydrogen while taking advantage of existing infrastructure. Rather than blending hydrogen directly into natural gas pipelines, which is tricky for several reasons, the process first converts hydrogen into methane.
The approach also creates potential connections between different clean fuels. For example, carbon dioxide captured at ethanol plants or renewable natural gas facilities could provide an ingredient for producing e-gas, while hydrogen supplies the other.
The biggest challenge today is cost. Producing e-gas using clean hydrogen remains expensive, and its future will depend in part on making clean hydrogen more affordable.
Overlapping fuel opportunities
As Michigan explores opportunities in hydrogen, renewable natural gas, and other clean fuels, e-gas is one example of how existing infrastructure and emerging technologies could work together.
Thanks to Trevor Blattner and Consumers Energy for sharing their work with our members through Clean Mobility 411.
Follow along for more introductions to the technologies, fuels, and ideas shaping Michigan’s clean mobility future.