Biomass gasification for hydrogen production

IEA Bioenergy Task 33 (Gasification of Biogenic and Waste Feedstocks for a Sustainable Future) has conducted a comprehensive study on biomass gasification technologies suited for hydrogen production. The report, “Biomass Gasification for Hydrogen Production,” explores ongoing commercial initiatives, highlighting key techno-economic opportunities, challenges, and knowledge gaps. By providing valuable insights, the study aims to enhance understanding of biomass gasification’s future potential and the advancements needed for its further development.

Download the full report “Biomass gasification for hydrogen production”

Main findings

• Biomass gasification is an economical and environmentally beneficial technology well suited for producing climate-positive hydrogen.
• It is highly likely that negative carbon emissions will be essential to reach climate targets. Hydrogen produced via biomass gasification is one of few hydrogen production pathways that can result in such negative emissions.
• The cost of producing hydrogen from biomass depends strongly on cost of capital and feedstock. With the current price levels of fossil methane in Europe, estimated cost levels in this report are comparable to hydrogen produced via steam methane reforming.
• The report shows that the cost levels for hydrogen produced via biomass gasification are competitive to future foreseen production cost of renewable hydrogen produced via solar- and wind-based electrolysis in many world regions.
• The next step is to demonstrate integrated operation of the complete production chain in relevant scale.

Low emission hydrogen produced with non-fossil fuels is expected to be key in the efforts de-fossilizing hard-to-abate sectors. Water electrolysis based on fossil-free electricity is regarded as the most promising technology to fulfill the anticipated exponentially growing demand for low emissions hydrogen. Securing sufficient power supply for the production of electrolytic hydrogen could however in several world-regions be challenging, mainly coupled to the required large expansion of power production and distribution.

Production of hydrogen via biomass gasification could be an important complement to the electrolysis pathway in particular in those regions with sufficient available biomass resources. Biomass gasification offers benefits such as non-intermittent and fossil-free hydrogen production, in a wide capacity range. The technology leads to many process integration opportunities. For instance, water electrolysers generate surplus amounts of oxygen, which is suitable as biomass gasification media). Another integration option is  to use the low temperature excess heat from electrolysers for biomass feedstock drying. This examples of synergy pave the way for more cost-efficient hydrogen production systems. One of the most prominent technology features is that the CO2 separation process is an integral part of the gasification system, which means that negative CO2-emissions can be obtained if carbon capture and storage (CCS) is applied. LCA-studies show that for hydrogen from biomass gasification combined with CCS, the greenhouse gas emission drops to below zero and can be as low as minus 15 to minus 22 kg CO2eq per kg produced hydrogen (equal to minus 125 to minus 183 gCO2eq/MJ of hydrogen.

The report describes different biomass gasification technologies suitable for hydrogen production and to provide information of on-going commercial initiatives. The report also aims at identifying potential techno-economic opportunities and challenges as well as knowledge gaps to better understand its potential future role and need of further development.

The hydrogen yield from biomass gasification varies depending on feedstock and process conditions, but an approximate value is about 100 kg of hydrogen per ton dry biomass. The energy efficiency also varies depending on process design but is normally in the range of 40-70% (based on the lower heating value).

The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of biomass gasification for hydrogen production is estimated to be in the 5 to 7 range depending on assessment methodology. All the main sub-processes of the conversion have a high technological maturity, but there is a need to demonstrate integrated operation of the complete hydrogen production chain in relevant scale to reach a higher TRL-score. Additional research is required to

increase the knowledge on potential impurities, trace elements and their possible effects on for example fuel cells. This could serve as valuable inputs to updated ISO standards where biomass gasification-based hydrogen should be included.

It is estimated that the current production cost for a large-scale gasification plant (200 MW hydrogen output) would be approximately 4 € per kg hydrogen at a biomass price of 20 € per MWh. With potential process improvements and utilisation of CCS, the production cost could reduce to below 3 € per kg hydrogen at the same biomass price. With the current price levels of fossil methane in Europe, these cost levels are

comparable to hydrogen produced via steam methane reforming. It is also shown that the cost levels are competitive to future foreseen production cost of renewable hydrogen produced via solar- and wind-based electrolysis in many world regions.

The report concludes that biomass gasification is an economical and environmentally beneficial technology well suited for producing climate-positive hydrogen. It is highly likely that negative carbon emissions will be essential to reach climate targets and hydrogen produced via biomass gasification is one of few hydrogen production pathways that can result in negative emissions.