MechChem Africa September 2018

⎪ Chemical, petrochemical, oil and gas ⎪

A compact model of a biogas treatment system called SmartCycle ® PSA (pressure swing absorption), developed by ETW Energietechnik GmbH, is taking root in France. Already proven on larger systems, the technology is now being made compact, flexible and energy-efficient via a container concept. Compact PSA biomethane plants for France

I n April 2018, the energy plant construc- tor ETW Energietechnik GmbH, from Moers, a German city on the western bank of the Rhine River, installed its first biogas processingplant inScherwiller, France, at a Rytec plant. The plant has since been in continuous operation. This is a compact model of the biogas treatment systemcalled SmarCycle ® PSAde- veloped by ETW. With a processing capacity of 230 to 385 standardm³ of biogas per hour, this plantmodel has been specially developed for the French market. Plant manufacturer,

Rytec, from Baden-Baden is responsible for the entire project development and the installed fermentation line. Biomethane on the advance “France is currently one of the most impor- tant markets for biomethane in Europe,” explains Marco Weiss, managing director of ETW Energietechnik GmbH. Energy experts assume that by 2030 France will be able to cover one third of its gas requirements with biomethane. An essential prerequisite for the implementation, however, is the application

of efficient and practice-proven processing technologies. “In the recent past we had a strong de- mand for compact plants in the performance class up to about 500 standard m³ of biogas per hour. Together with our French part- ner, GASEO, we have therefore decided to integrate our ETW SmartCycle technology, already proven on larger systems, into a compact, flexible and energy-efficient con- tainer concept,” explains Weiss. “In addition, this technology will enable us to establish ourselves inmany othermarketswith similar development potential.” The compact design reduces space requirements and assembly times on the construction site. Moreover, the flexible operation of the plant allows the operator to adapt directly to his biogas production without having to accept losses in biomethane quality. The ‘smart’ pro- cess control reacts fullyautomatically, even to large volume flow fluctuations and changing raw gas qualities. This means that there is no loss in yield or quality of the biomethane produced. The self-regenerating, dry gas treatment process has been continuously established in the industrial gas sector since the 1980s due to its extremely high availability. This makes the process predestined for widespread use in France. “This is where biogas quality is less predictable because large amounts of residues and waste end up in biogas plants,” explains Oliver Jende, sales manager for Flexible operation, self-regenerating process

In April 2018, the biogas upgrading plant constructor ETW Energietechnik fromMoers installed its first biogas processing plant in Scherwiller, France.

Transformation drives job creation Chevron South Africa’s executive chair- man, Shashi Rabbipal, is strongly in favour of transformation in the oil and gas sector as a driver of job creation and value for the company and its various stakeholders. thrive in the energy sector. He said that cre- ating newblack entrants for 50%of its retail networkandchannellingapproximately50% of its crude procurement through black and black female-owned oil trading companies are two great examples of howan integrated oilcompanycansupportSouthAfrica’ssocio- economic transformation objectives.

beyond compliance as we continue to seek opportunities that drive job creation and economic prosperity, cultivate mutually beneficial business relationships and demonstrate good businesspractice,” says Rabbipal. The following examples illustrate actions

According to Rabbipal, the company views transformation as a key value enabler for business, achieving a newlyminted Level 2 against the revised Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Codes of Good Practice. Rabbipal outlined that the company has harnessed its procurement capacity and its Branded Marketer network to create an environment where entrepreneurship can

Chevron South Africa’s Level 2 B-BBEE achievement is most impressive, given that it is based on the company’s full value chain, which includes its Cape Town refinery and its national network of Caltex retail service stations. “Ourcommitmenttotransformationgoes

Chevron South Africa has taken to deliver on the company’s transformationobjectives: • 82% of the workforce is black, and 27% are black females.

28 ¦ MechChem Africa • September 2018