German renewable energy company EnviTec Biogas is expanding a long-running biogas project in Lohne by adding a biomethane upgrading unit, enabling the facility to inject renewable gas into the national grid while increasing the use of agricultural feedstocks.
The project, operated by Timphaus Erneuerbare Energien (TEE) GmbH & Co. KG, will install an EnviThan gas upgrading plant with a capacity of 561 normal cubic metres (Nm³) per hour. Construction began in January, with the first biomethane injection into the gas grid expected by October, subject to successful commissioning, Biomass Magazine reported.
The expansion marks the next phase of a biogas plant that has operated since 2011 under Germany’s Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), which provided long-term revenue support for renewable energy projects.
As part of the upgrade, the operator also secured approval to expand the overall biogas facility, allowing it to process additional feedstocks such as manure and slurry. The increased feedstock capacity is expected to boost biogas production while providing flexibility to either generate electricity or upgrade biogas into biomethane for grid injection.
According to EnviTec, all modules for the gas upgrading unit are being prefabricated and factory-tested before installation at the Lohne site.
The latest investment builds on an earlier expansion completed in 2020, when the plant added a 1,500-kW flexible combined heat and power (CHP) unit to complement its original 549-kW biogas facility. The additional CHP capacity enables electricity generation to be adjusted according to market demand, improving operational flexibility and revenue potential.
The project reflects a broader trend in Europe, where biogas producers are increasingly upgrading biogas into biomethane for use in gas networks and low-carbon energy applications, alongside conventional renewable electricity generation.
