Standards Development

Scope

This document defines gasification installations to produce bio-syngas from biomass sources, purify the bio-syngas, convert the bio-syngas by methanation and upgrade the biomethane from a safety, environmental, performance and functionality perspective. This document covers the most relevant technologies to produce biomethane from biomass gasification and gives reference for global performances calculation of installations. It gives also general requirements for safety, construction and commissioning, operation and maintenance.

Purpose

ISO TC 255 is involved in the development of standards regarding biogas. A new WG 5 was created to prepare a standard on biogas non-household systems using anaerobic digestion. Biogas experts from this WG5 outlined the specificities of gasification systems compared to anaerobic digestion. Gasification systems were then considered out of scope from WG5 and thus, another NWIP is launched with another WG.

A reflection on biogas non-household systems and an assessment of current industrial practices pointed out the need to establish technical standards. As biomethane from biomass gasification is still on the verge of industrial development, the same reflection and needs can be anticipated as it was done for biogas systems. And even, having a set of agreed terms and definitions for gasification systems, as well as a classification scheme for the whole biomethane production chain, might also promote the development of gasification systems for biomethane production.

Furthermore, these shared and approved standards are necessary in order to:

— stimulate the application of biomethane as sustainable energy source; — provide liberalization and facilitation for international trade of biomethane;

— contribute to international co-operation on technical regulations, standards and assessment procedures;

— curb discriminatory technical requirements as the main form of trade protectionism;

— reduce and eliminate the technical barriers for international trade of biomethane;

— facilitate development of regional and national regulations and incentive programs to promote biomethane production and application;

— contribute to reinforcement of biomethane installations’ safety and business competitiveness with recognized terms and definitions that clarify actors’ expectations related to procurement, contracts and services as well as reporting on biomethane related action plans, roadmaps, etc.;

— contribute to the use of standards by facilitating their development and furthering users’ understanding and application of standards.