Develops catalytic methanation plants for producing renewable methane from biomass, biogas, sewage gas and CO₂.
Cairos Energy
Leoben (AT) · Bruck an der Leitha (AT)New on Amplifa
About Cairos Energy
Cairos Energy is a spin-off venture of Montanuniversität Leoben and is in the process of being founded. The company develops catalytic methanation reactors that convert synthesis gas from biomass (gasification or pyrolysis of residual wood and straw), biogas, sewage gas and CO₂-rich residual gases into renewable methane. The core product is a modular 2-MW methanation plant housed in two standard 20-foot containers with a thermal-oil-cooled catalytic tube-bundle reactor, a commercially available nickel catalyst, automated plant control and usable reaction heat of up to 513 kW thermal per module; several modules can be combined to 4 or 6 MW. After optional CO₂ separation, the methane-rich gas produced can be fed directly into the existing gas grid. The technology was demonstrated in industrial real operation with biogas and renewable hydrogen at a 200-kW pilot plant in Bruck an der Leitha, with the gas quality verified to grid quality. Target groups are industry, energy and heat supply, mobility, and operators of biogas and sewage treatment plants.
- Site
- Leoben
- Processes
- Gasification, Pyrolysis, Catalytic methanation (CAIROS methanation), CO₂ separation (membrane separation or amine scrubbing), Electrolysis (SOEC or PEM) for renewable hydrogen, Methanation technology (catalytic methanation of synthesis gas, biogas, sewage gas and CO₂), 2-MW methanation plant (modular, two 20-foot containers), CO₂ separation (e.g. membrane separation, amine scrubbing) as a process stage
- Materials
- Nickel (catalyst, commercially available), Biomass (residual wood, straw, harvest residues), Renewable Methane, Nickel catalyst, Residual wood, straw, harvest residues, Renewable hydrogen
- Certificates
- Gas quality verified to grid quality
- Industries
- Energy supply, Industry, Mobility, Heat supply, Biogas/sewage plant operators
- 01
Gasification or pyrolysis of biomass into synthesis gas
- 02
Electrolysis for renewable hydrogen (SOEC or PEM, option 2)
- 03
Catalytic methanation in the tube-bundle reactor
- 04
Heat management and utilization of reaction heat
- 05
CO₂ separation (membrane separation or amine scrubbing, option 1)
- 06
Feed-in of renewable methane into the gas grid
Input materials and processes
Renewable Methane
Product gas at around 210 Nm³/h and 2,000 kW per 2-MW module, suitable for feed-in to the existing gas grid.
Nickel catalyst
Commercially available catalyst of the catalytic tube-bundle reactor.
Residual wood, straw, harvest residues
Biogenic residual materials as feedstock for gasification or pyrolysis into synthesis gas.
Renewable hydrogen
From electrolysis (SOEC or PEM) for the methanation of biogas, sewage gas and CO₂.
Locations
Leoben
ATBusiness address, c/o Montanuniversität Leoben, Chair of Process Engineering of Industrial Environmental Protection
Bruck an der Leitha
AT200-kW pilot plant in industrial real operation
- Materials
- Biogas with hydrogen
- 200-kW methanation pilot plant
- Catalytic tube-bundle reactor
- Gas engineering
- Measurement and control technology
Plant components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GasificationEngineering | – | – | – | – | Biomass, Residual wood, Agricultural residues |
| PyrolysisEngineering | – | – | – | – | Biomass |
| Catalytic methanation (CAIROS methanation)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Synthesis gas, Biogas, Sewage gas, CO₂, Hydrogen |
| CO₂ separation (membrane separation or amine scrubbing)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Synthesis gas |
| Electrolysis (SOEC or PEM) for renewable hydrogenEngineering | – | – | – | – | Water |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 MW methanation plant | Cairos Energy 2-MW methanation plant | – | Renewable methane 2,000 kW (around 210 Nm³/h), usable heat up to 513 kW thermal | – | – |
| Catalytic tube-bundle reactor (thermal-oil-cooled) | Cairos Energy | – | – | – | – |
| 200 kW methanation pilot plant | Cairos Energy | 1 | 200 kW | – | Bruck an der Leitha |
Additional services
Technical evidence
Real operation was demonstrated at the 200-kW pilot plant in Bruck an der Leitha; the gas quality produced was verified to grid quality.
| Evidence | Bruck an der Leitha |
|---|---|
| Gas quality verified to grid quality |
History
Cairos emerges as a spin-off venture of Montanuniversität Leoben; the company is in formation (as of September 2026).
Commissioning of a 200-kW pilot plant in Bruck an der Leitha; production of renewable methane from biogas with additional hydrogen, gas quality verified to grid quality.