Steam gasification of biomass offers a great potential for polygeneration concepts, which aim at the generation of various products from a single feedstock. The dual fluidized bed biomass steam gasification of biomass generates a N₂ free product with high calorific value and a volumetric gas composition of about 40 % H₂, 25 % CO, 23 % CO₂, 10 % CH₄, and about 2 % of higher hydrocarbons. This product gas is the feedstock for polygeneration concepts aiming at the generation of H₂, CH₄ (synthetic natural gas), electricity, and heat based on state of the art unit operations, like water gas shift, pressure swing adsorption, or methanation. Moreover, there is also the possibility to separate CO and CO₂ from the product gas in order to use them as basis chemical for industry.

H₂ is of interest as feed stock for industry and as possible carbon free energy carrier in the future. CH₄ or synthetic natural gas can easily be stored and distributed in existing natural gas grids. Electricity can be generated by combustion of product gas in a gas engine or by using excess heat of the gasification process in an Organic Rankine Cycle. Heat can be generated through combustion of product gas or by using excess heat of the gasification process.

This project shows that biomass can be used for more than just electricity and heat generation. Moreover, it can serve as feedstock for the generation of energy carriers or for important basic chemicals for industry.