World’s second-largest condensing system

The world’s second-largest liquefaction plant for bio- and synthetic fuels is being built in the heart of Germany, in Burghaun in the district of Fulda. Reefuelery GmbH is building it and is then able to supply climate-neutral fuel for heavy goods and freight transport – in enormous quantities, as the plant has a capacity of 180 tonnes of bio-LNG per day.

Source: Reefuelery GmbH

Reefuelery GmbH chose Burghaun because of its central location and excellent connection to the network of Alternoil, a subsidiary of the Avanca Group, which specialises in sustainable energy and logistics solutions, currently comprising 36 LNG filling stations. This network is to be expanded to 60 sites by the end of 2023. In addition to liquefied, ultra-cold LNG, Alternoil has also been offering “Reefuel” – a fuel mix of bio-LNG/LBG and e-LNG (synthetic LNG) – at its fuel pumps since the end of 2020.

Benedikt Rolfes, Project Manager Reefuelery GmbH, explains the details of the new liquefaction plant, which, among other things, will supply plenty of climate-neutral fuel for heavy goods traffic. Source: Reefuelery GmbH

Another point that spoke in favour of this location in central Germany for Reefuelery GmbH was the direct access to the MIDAL natural gas pipeline, which connects the North Sea with southern Germany. These advantages make it possible to reduce CO₂ emissions along the entire value chain and effectively exploit economies of scale in the production of bio-LNG/LBG. Alternoil GmbH, Erdgas Südwest GmbH (an experienced energy service provider) and BMP Greengas GmbH (one of Europe’s leading biomethane marketers) are now pooling their strengths and expertise to produce the 100% climate-neutral fuel for heavy-duty transport. Going forward, the joint venture will produce the CO₂-free Reefuel in Burghauns.

Click on the plan of the planned plant in Burghaun to access the interactive graphic with information on further details. Source: Reefuelery GmbH

“As a climate municipality, we can be part of a project that makes a significant contribution to limiting harmful CO₂ emissions in heavy-duty transport,” says Burghaun’s Mayor Dieter Hornung, who is delighted with the choice of location. This is because even with fossil LNG in the tank, a LNG-powered truck emits significantly less greenhouse gas than a diesel truck: 15% less CO₂, 35% less nitrogen oxides and an eye-popping 95% less particulate matter. If liquefied biogas is used, heavy goods vehicles using bio-LNG/LBG are almost CO₂-neutral.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the second largest liquefaction plant in the world has already taken place (from left to right): Stefanie Klee (CDU Hesse state parliament candidate), Ralf Biehl (Spokesman for the Management Board of Erdgas Südwest GmbH), Stefan Schneider (Managing Director BMP Greengas GmbH), Markus Baumgärtner (Head of Value Chain Gas EnBW AG), Thomas Hering (Member of the Hesse State Parliament CDU), Mark Weinmeister (District President Kassel), Frank Erben (CEO Reefuelery GmbH), Benedikt Rolfes (Project Manager Reefuelery GmbH), Dieter Hornung (Mayor of Burghaun), Henrik Bramlage (CEO Avanca GmbH), Mario Klotzsche (Speaker Hessian State Parliament FDP) and Jürgen Muhle (CEO Reefuelery GmbH). Source: Reefuelery GmbH

The liquefaction plant is being developed by the Finnish Wärtsilä Group according to the most efficient standards for almost climate-neutral operation. The plant consists of a gas treatment unit, a condensing unit and a storage and loading unit. BMP Greengas as service provider purchases the required quantities of biogas. The feed gas is liquefied in the condensing unit with the help of a heat exchanger at a temperature of -162 degrees Celsius. Once the plant is complete, 180 tonnes of bio-LNG/LBG can be produced per day.

“Bio-LNG will play an important role going forward, on the one hand as a climate-neutral fuel, but also as a fuel for regions without a supply infrastructure that previously relied on fossil fuels,” says Ralf Biehl, Managing Director of Erdgas Südwest GmbH. The finished bio-LNG is delivered by Paneuropa Transport GmbH to the Alternoil filling stations using tank containers. Paneuropa’s intermodal logistics concept (a combination of road and rail) enables further CO₂ reductions in the distribution of the climate-neutral fuel. Up to 4.500 LNG-powered trucks can be operated in a climate-neutral manner with the quantities produced, thus saving up to 550.000 tonnes of CO₂ per year compared to diesel trucks.

Soon, up to 4,500 trucks with LNG propulsion will be able to benefit from the ultra-cold biogas liquefied in the centre of Germany. Source: Alternoil GmbH/Timo Lutz Werbefotografie

With the commissioning of the efficient liquefaction plant, Reefuelery GmbH will soon significantly improve the supply of bio-LNG/LBG. “We are becoming less dependent on fossil fuels. Furthermore, we cover the entire value chain – from our own liquefaction in the “reefuelery”, the intermodal logistics concept to the nationwide filling station infrastructure,” notes Jürgen Muhle, Managing Director of the Avanca Group, explaining the other advantages of the world’s second-largest liquefaction plant for bio- and synthetic fuels. (pd/jas, 16 May 2023)