Description

• Programme: Interreg – Danube Transnational Programme, Specific objective: Improve energy security and energy efficiency
• Funding amount: 2.5 million euros, of which EUR 520,000 are for Bavaria
• Funding period: 07/2020–12/2022
• Coordinator: Dr Tim Bieringer, Technology Centre Energy, Landshut University of Applied Sciences
• Internet: www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/danup-2-gas   

Promoting energy security in the Danube region through the use of renewable energy

The Danube region holds enormous potential for sustainable generation and storage of renewable energy. So far, however, this region has been heavily dependent on energy imports, while energy efficiency and diversity and the share of renewable energies are low. The EU project DanuP-2-Gas aims to change this and develop renewable energy generation and storage strategies in the Danube region.

New geo-information platform with useful tools

DanuP-2-Gas builds on the Danube region project “ENERGY BARGE” (www.energy-barge.eu), which developed an internet database that can answer numerous logistics questions on biomass reserves and requirements in the Danube region. DanuP-2-Gas is now developing another geo-information platform, which will be expanded with useful tools such as a tool for finding ideal locations of sector coupling nodes. In addition, the project is preparing strategies for the transnational use of biomass and analysing economic feasibility and legal framework conditions.

Identification of suitable locations along the Danube

With the help of the already developed data platform, DanuP-2-Gas can now identify biomass resources (e.g. straw, animal fertilisers, organic waste) and suitable locations for storage, further transport (e. g. ports) and processing into biomethane along the Danube. In contrast to natural gas, biomethane is a gas produced synthetically from biomass. Renewable methane gas is produced from hydrogen and carbon dioxide from biomass in a technical plant by using special microorganisms.

New logistical concept needed

For this gas extraction, however, the biomass must be transported to the corresponding plants and then also be stored. This requires a logistical concept for how the previously unused biomass in the Danube region – also taking into account the legal situation – can best be used energetically in the form of syngas.

Project partners from 10 countries

A total of 14 partners from ten countries in the Danube region are working on this under the coordination of the Technology Centre for Energy (TZE) at Landshut University of Applied Sciences, such as representatives from universities and research, energy agencies, industry and public authorities. The Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs and the government of Lower Bavaria also support DanuP-2-Gas as associated partners.