Project funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR)

We transform Renewable Energy and organic waste into Synthetic natural gas.

ERMES is developing a new production chain for renewable gaseous fuels, converting excess electricity and biomass waste into Bio-SNG for energy, civil, and industrial applications.

The ERMES Integrated System​

Double Fluidized Bed Gasifier

Biomass and organic residues—as is or pre-treated through pyrolysis—are converted into syngas (H₂, CO₂, CO₂) at high temperatures through thermochemical conversion, without combustion. The gas is then cleaned and conditioned to remove particulate matter and unwanted compounds.

SOEC electrolyzer

Powered by renewable electricity, it produces hydrogen through water splitting. It operates at high temperatures, allowing for thermal integration with the gasifier to increase the overall efficiency of the system. The resulting hydrogen regulates the composition of the syngas for the next stage.

Catalytic Methanation Reactor

The syngas from the gasifier is mixed with hydrogen from the electrolyzer. Chemical reactions within the reactor convert the carbon contained in the gas into methane. The final product is Bio-SNG, a renewable gas with energy characteristics similar to natural gas.

A Consortium of Three Universities for the Renewable Energy of the Future

ERMES is an 18-month fundamental research project funded under the PNRR – NextGenerationEU (M2C2 Line 3.5). It brings together the University of L'Aquila (lead partner), the University of Rome Tor Vergata, and the University of Teramo.

The initiative addresses the problem of the variability of renewable sources: the energy produced by wind and photovoltaic systems does not always coincide with consumption times. ERMES proposes to convert this excess energy into a storeable and long-term energy source, integrating the valorization of organic waste and biomass.

Find out About Us
01

Experimental Research

Laboratory and pilot-scale experiments: biomass characterization, benchtop gasifier testing, catalyst and sorbent selection, methanation simulations and tests.
02

Pilot Plant Validation

Installation and testing of the entire integrated system with long-term continuous testing. The operational stability, efficiency, and controllability of the three technologies were verified in a coordinated manner.
03

Scalability Analysis

Process simulations at different scales, techno-economic analysis, LCC and LCA to evaluate costs and environmental sustainability and define the conditions for future application on an industrial scale.

Expected Results at the End of the ERMES Project

Pilot-scale validation of a complete process

A complete process for the production of Bio-SNG from renewable energy and organic waste will be validated, demonstrating the continuous and coordinated operation of the three integrated technologies.

Renewable gas compatible with existing infrastructure

The production of a renewable gas compatible with existing gas infrastructure will be demonstrated, which can be used for various energy applications without requiring new distribution networks.

Technical and economic basis for industrial adoption

The project will provide the technical and economic basis for technology adoption: system performance evaluation, cost analysis, environmental sustainability, and conditions for industrial scale-up.

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