Green gas at Grolsch! HoSt supplies technology

The green Grolsch beer becomes even greener now that Koninklijke Grolsch - in addition to using sustainable heat from Twence - also chooses to produce green gas. The Enschede-based bio-energy company HoSt will take the biogas from the Grolsch wastewater treatment plant and install a biogas reprocessor that will produce over 1 million Nm3 of green gas annually from this biogas. A green regional cooperation that makes the beer brewing process and the regional gas network greener. This sustainable alternative for fossil natural gas will supply gas in accordance with approximately 700 households in Twente.

Green gas from biogas

At the end of this year, more than two-thirds of Grolsch's heat demand will be met by sustainable heat from Twence, delivered via a new underground pipeline. Because of this supply of heat, not all of Grolsch's biogas can be used directly for its own heating needs. Therefore, the biogas produced will be upgraded to green gas in the new system to be built on the brewery's site. "With the arrival of the heat pipeline, it is necessary to give the biogas another use, in which it is still optimally utilized: green gas is a sustainable, proven efficient application. We are very proud of this step as part of our energy transition, in combination with the projects of our sustainable heat purchase and 100% green electricity choice. All of these initiatives bring us one big step closer to our goal of being a carbon neutral brewery by 2025!" said Susan Ladrak, Sustainability Manager at Grolsch. "In fact, by taking these steps, we are reducing our CO2 emissions scope 1 and 2 combined by more than 85%." Preparations for the new plant are in full swing. It is expected that the green gas can be delivered to the grid from the third quarter of 2022.

Regional collaboration

The development and construction of green gas plants contributes to the energy transition of which HoSt is a driving force. In this regional collaboration, Grolsch supplies the biogas to HoSt and HoSt supplies the system that remains in the ownership and management of HoSt. "More than half of the green gas systems in the Netherlands are built by HoSt and energy-as-a-service collaborations like this we see more and more. This sustainable gas variant plays a key role in the energy transition and with our technologies we answer both the energy and waste issues. Green gas is very suitable for the existing gas network and for taking sustainability steps in existing buildings and industry. The government strongly stimulates the production of green gas and there is plenty of demand for alternatives to fossil fuels," says director Jelle Klein Teeselink of the HoSt Group. "Part of the government's plans is an obligation for gas suppliers to add green gas, but we also see a strong increase in demand internationally on all continents. We are very proud of this collaboration close to home. The Netherlands is not yet a leader in the field of renewable energy, but it has high ambitions. Every initiative is a step closer".

Biogas reprocessing

Producing green gas from biogas is done through membrane technology. In a number of efficient steps, membranes separate the methane from the CO2 and other components present. The methane content of the biogas is brought to the desired methane content, after which green gas or biomethane is produced. This is a sustainable gas with the same properties as natural gas. The green gas, including the well-known gas smell (THT), is delivered to the existing (natural) gas network on site. The produced gas has a methane content of 89%.

Foto, f.l.t.r.: Jelle Klein Teeselink (Managing Director HoSt), Susan Ladrak (Sustainability Manager Grolsch), Ben Olde Keizer (Area Sales Manager HoSt), Daniël Platvoet (Utility Manager Grolsch).

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