A trial to test "green methane" as a replacement for mains gas

Concept art for a renewable gas plant near Roma, Qld. (ABC News)

The Australian Federal Government will fund a trial of renewable methane production in Roma, Queensland. Natural gas, which is currently used for mains gas, is mostly methane. The process is to be powered by solar energy. 

Australian gas producer APA Group will develop a $2.2 million renewable methane demonstration project at the company’s Wallumbilla Gas hub near Roma in Queensland. Funds and collaboration will also come from ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency) and Southern Green Gas, respectively. 

The plan is to use solar PV to power the conversion of water into hydrogen using an anion exchange membrane electrolyser. Then the hydrogen would be converted into methane (CH₄) through a process that combines hydrogen (H₂) with carbon dioxide (CO₂). 

If successful, the project will be converted into a larger commercial-grade plant to provide emissions-free methane for mains gas and possibly for export. 

Read more: 

- Trial to explore “green methane” as replacement for mains gas. RenewEconomy, May 8, 2020. 

- “Coffee-table”-sized units to power new gas plant near Roma. ABC News, May 8, 2020.