Techno-economic assessment of the sorption enhanced methanation: Levelized cost of methane, performance indicators and sensitivity analysis

Barón, C. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Gómez, L. ; Martínez, I. ; Bailera, M. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: This work presents the first techno-economic assessment of sorption-enhanced methanation (SEM) based on TRL-3 experimental data, comparing it with conventional methanation (CM). Experimental tests fitted a kinetic model for reactor sizing in a 200 MWe plant. While SEM requires more catalyst (223.7 kg/MWe) than CM (70–90 kg/MWe), both systems show similar CAPEX (∼700-800 M€). The results highlight that SEM generates three times higher income due to superior product purity. Conventional methanation often faces economic losses when producing 95% CH4, as levelized costs (LCOM, 2.4 – 3.3 €/kg) exceed market prices (0.5 €/kg). Although CM can be profitable at 99% purity market, SEM achieves 99.9% CH4, accessing a premium market (12 €/kg) that guarantees profitability even in unfavorable hydrogen cost scenarios. Consequently, SEM emerges as a key technology to enhance the economic viability and maturity of innovative H2 production.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.154958

Año: 2026

Publicado en: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 231 (2026), 154958 [16 pp.]
ISSN: 0360-3199

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/AEI/RYC2022-038283-I
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/T46-17R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MCIU/FPU23-00073
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2021-123878OB-I00
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICIU/PID2023-149968OBI00

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Máquinas y Motores Térmi. (Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica)