Published date: 7 August 2024

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 1 August 2024, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Research and development consultancy services - 73200000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£50,000.93

Procurement reference

CF-0341600D8d000003VQwdEAG

Published date

7 August 2024

Closing date

1 August 2024

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

8 August 2024

Contract end date

31 December 2024

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Call-off from a framework agreement

A mini-competition or direct purchase from a pre-established framework agreement.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

Methane slip is the term used to describe the portion of methane (fuel) that passes through a gas engine without being combusted and is emitted to atmosphere via the engine exhaust. It may also describe methane that is not captured during biogas upgrading and is emitted with the off-gas via the process vent stack.
This project is primarily concerned with methane slip from (stationary, reciprocating) lean-burn gas engines used to generate electricity or for cogeneration (CHP).
Lean-burn gas engines are commonly deployed at landfill sites, wastewater treatment facilities and anaerobic digestion plants to generate electricity from the methane rich biogas produced by those sites. The gas engines are typically in the 500kWe to 2MWe range. Lean-burn engines are generally favoured over other types due to their higher fuel efficiency and lower NOx emissions. However, the combustion conditions that favour lower NOx formation typically result in higher methane slip rates as an inherent part of the engine operation.
Historically, the options to treat exhaust gases to remove unburned methane have been limited. The low exhaust temperatures associated with lean-burn engines hindered the operation of the 2 or 3-way catalyst systems often used for emissions reduction. However, the Environment Agency is aware that considerable research has been taking place on methane slip reduction and that viable exhaust treatment techniques may now or may soon be commercially available.
The Environment Agency proposes to let a project to review current and emerging techniques for the abatement of methane in lean-burn engine exhausts.

Award information

Awarded date

5 August 2024

Contract start date

8 August 2024

Contract end date

31 December 2024

Total value of contract

£50,000.93

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

Ricardo-AEA Ltd

Address

The Gemini Building, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QR

Reference

None

About the buyer

Contact name

Adrian Ajibade

Address

17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
UK

Email

adrian.ajibade@defra.gov.uk