This questionnaire is part of the EU project ēQATOR and is addressed to biogas project developers and investors. It aims to capture your perspectives on the technical feasibility, economic viability, integration challenges, suitable business models, and regulatory conditions needed for the deployment of electrically heated reactor technologies and related products.
Your input will help shape practical deployment guidelines and scale‑up roadmaps, ensuring that ēQATOR outcomes are aligned with real‑world project needs and market conditions. In this way, the questionnaire helps bridge the gap between the project’s technology push and industry pull.
The estimated time to complete the questionnaire is 10–15 minutes. Your answers will be treated confidentially, and results will be presented in aggregated form only.
Introduction to the ēQATOR project
ēQATOR is a European Horizon project developing electrically heated catalytic reforming reactors to convert biogas directly into syngas—a precursor for renewable biomethanol and other green chemicals. This offers biogas plant operators a high-value upgrade path beyond electricity or biomethane, especially for small-to-medium plants lacking grid access or subsidies.
Core process
Biogas (primarily CH₄ + CO₂) is fed into an electrically heated catalytic reactor where resistive or inductive heating delivers precise energy directly to the catalyst—eliminating combustion inefficiencies. The key reaction is electrified dry reforming:
CH₄ + CO₂ → 2H₂ + 2CO (syngas)
The syngas is then processed via methanol synthesis (CO + 2H₂ → CH₃OH) or further converted to fuels/chemicals. Electrical heating enables compact design, rapid startup, and compatibility with renewable electricity for negative lifecycle emissions.
Unique Value Proposition
ēQATOR eliminates fossil fuel use in biogas reforming while producing drop-in renewable methanol suitable for chemical markets, fuels, or e-fuels. The technology supports EU RFNBO criteria, carbon accounting benefits, and negative emissions when coupled with biogas carbon capture—positioning plants as sustainability leaders under tightening climate regulations.
Target Applications
The ēQATOR technological solution enables biogas plants to produce renewable methanol and other chemicals:
- Biogas plants producing syngas for biomethanol synthesis (biogas → syngas → MeOH)
- Biogas plants targeting renewable fuels or H₂ production via downstream syngas conversion
- Biogas upgrading facilities replacing steam methane reforming with compact electrical reforming
- Small-to-medium biogas plants (<500 Nm³/h) lacking grid access or electricity subsidies
- Biogas plants co-located with methanol off-takers or chemical parks
- New/refurbished biogas plants aiming for EU RFNBO certification and negative emissions
Scale & Maturity
ēQATOR targets TRL 4-6, demonstrating the electrically heated reforming process at pilot scale (~100-500 Nm³/h biogas). The modular reactor design facilitates integration into existing biogas plants with minimal downtime, using standard utilities (electricity, cooling water) and compact footprints.