Modeling and optimization of a membrane-assisted hybrid gas grid for methane and carbon dioxide transport, storage, and sector coupling
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Decarbonizing the energy system requires large-scale integration of renewable energy, but its variability presents challenges for reliability and long-duration storage. Power-to-gas technologies present a promising solution by converting surplus electricity into gaseous fuels. Nonetheless, current approaches often overlook the carbon cycle in the system and the potential of natural gas infrastructure as a storage medium. This study proposes and evaluates an integrated renewable power-to-gas and hybrid gas grid system that retrofits pipelines to enable the co-injection of CH 4 and CO 2 , where a dynamic carbon cycle is established using membrane-based gas separation. The system is modeled through a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) optimization framework combined with a quasi-dynamic gas grid model, capturing both operational and compositional effects. The model undergoes a year-long simulation based on varying electricity and gas demand profiles and market information. Results indicate that the hybrid gas grid is technically feasible and economically competitive, particularly for long-distance transmission and seasonal storage. An optimal CO 2 concentration of 30 % in the gas grid minimizes the levelized cost of methane (LCOM) to 0.378 EUR/kg. The findings provide valuable insights for retrofitting gas grids to support renewable integration, carbon cycle, and sector coupling under future low-carbon energy scenarios.
Source: Applied Energy
Authors: Du Wen, François Maréchal
Institution: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Language: English
Subfield: Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,430
OpenAlex ID: W4413512914