Biomethane: A Sustainable Solution for 35 Million Tons of Waste in Castile and León

The livestock and scientific sectors, along with the Regional Government of Castile and León, are supporting the growth of this sector at an event organized in partnership with La Gaceta de Salamanca

Madrid, 04-23-26. Castile and León has one of the greatest potentials in Europe for the development of biomethane. This was highlighted at the conference “Biomethane in Salamanca: Science, Territory, and Industrial Opportunity,” organized by La Gaceta de Salamanca, where government officials, the scientific community, industry representatives, and stakeholders from the agriculture and livestock sector all agreed that this technology is an effective solution for waste management and the energy transition.

The event was opened by José Manuel Jiménez, Director General of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability for the Regional Government of Castile and León, who stated that biomethane plants are a sustainable solution for the 35 million tons of organic waste of all kinds produced by the region.

This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Susana Magdaleno, editor-in-chief of La Gaceta, featuring representatives from the biomethane sector, the livestock industry, and academia. Participants included Manuel Alonso, CEO of Biorig; Juan Luis Delgado, president of ASAJA Salamanca; Mariano Martín, professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Salamanca; and Pedro Palencia, director of Institutional Relations at Sedigas.

During the meeting, Biorig’s CEO, Manuel Alonso, emphasized that biomethane is an immediate solution to the community’s waste management challenges, noting that this raw material “already exists” and can be converted into renewable energy, organic fertilizers, and biogenic CO₂, without the need to increase livestock numbers or import waste.

In this regard, Alonso noted that the region could achieve an annual biomethane production of around 35 TWh, which is equivalent to more than 250 facilities similar to those developed by Biorig in Castile and León.

An environmental and energy solution based on the circular economy

In addition, Biorig’s CEO addressed some of the main public concerns associated with these facilities, such as odors and the impact on the surrounding environment. In this regard, he emphasized the importance of transparency and firsthand knowledge: “The best thing is to go and see them for yourself.” Alonso described the company’s experience with projects like the one in Castellanos de Villiquera, where residents have been able to tour operational facilities and verify that they are equipped with advanced control systems that minimize any adverse effects.

For his part, Professor Mariano Martín also highlighted the technological maturity of biomethane and the need to step up public outreach: “The technology is working, but it is our responsibility to better explain its benefits.” Along the same lines, Pedro Palencia, speaking on behalf of Sedigas, emphasized that these are safe facilities, backed by decades of experience in European countries such as Germany, France, and Italy.

Technical rigour and environmental guarantees

Speaking on behalf of the primary sector, Juan Luis Delgado highlighted the opportunity that biomethane presents for livestock farms, provided it is developed in a balanced manner. In this regard, he emphasized that it can serve as an additional source of income and an efficient solution for waste management, helping to strengthen the sector’s sustainability.

Throughout the discussion, participants emphasized the need to continue making progress in education, regulation, and collaboration among government agencies, businesses, and the public to consolidate the development of biomethane in Castile and León. As the participants agreed, this sector combines positive environmental impact, industrial development, and opportunities for rural communities.

BIORIG, circular economy and energy sustainability

Biorigis Solarig’s biomethane production division. It was created with the aim of providing innovative solutions in the field of renewable gases, such as biomethane. Its activity is focused on the management of organic agro-livestock raw materials for their transformation into renewable gases and to promote the development of projects in the field of energy transition and circular economy.

Biorig is committed to a circular economy model based on the recovery and management of agricultural and livestock raw materials, commitment to the development of local communities, and the promotion of the production of renewable gases to accelerate the energy transition in the places where it operates.

Myths and facts of biomethane: odors, logistics, and rural employment from the perspective of an operational facility

Here’s how a biomethane plant with over 20 years of operational experience works

Madrid. 06.04.26. Biomethane is a renewable energy source produced from organic waste. This technology, which has been in development for over 40 years in other European countries, will have only about 15 operational facilities by early 2025, according to the latest data collected by the European Biogas Association (EBA). Given this reality, information and outreach regarding the technology are vital to unlocking biomethane’s full potential—both from an energy perspective and in terms of waste management and the social and economic development of rural areas.

To this end, Biorig organized a trip to Friedland (Germany) with residents of Castellanos de Villiquera (Salamanca) to demonstrate how an operational biomethane plant works and how it integrates into the surrounding environment. The plant, owned by EnviTec Biogás, processes approximately 145,000 tons of exclusively agricultural and livestock waste (slurry, manure, chicken manure, and crop residues). Friedland has been in operation since 2007 and is located just 100 meters from residential areas, coexisting normally with a population of nearly 7,000 residents.

The model is similar to that of Biorig, which recycles raw materials from the primary sector: specifically, slurry, manure, and straw. In this way, the plants operated by the company provide a solution for improving the management of these local waste streams at existing farms; combined with the use of the latest technologies and best available techniques, this ensures that the operation of these facilities does not cause any inconvenience to the nearby population.

Myths and Realities of Biomethane

“Biomethane plants smell”

❌ MYTH: Storage and processing are contained and treated using biofilters. If managed properly, there are no odor emissions to the outside.

“Biomethane can decarbonize natural gas consumption”

✅ FACT: It is equivalent to natural gas and can be injected into the existing network, enabling the decarbonization of industry, transportation, and heating without the need for new infrastructure.

“The proximity to municipalities is problematic”

❌ MYTH: There are plants located just 100 meters from residential areas that are operating normally. The key lies in process management and control.

“The logistics of biomethane cause inconvenience”

❌ MYTH: Waste management already has its own logistics system, which is being replaced by that of biomethane plants. It organizes and optimizes existing flows in the agriculture and livestock sector.

“Plants always handle sludge or hazardous waste”

❌ MYTH: Facilities like Biorig’s process existing, locally sourced agricultural and livestock waste: specifically, slurry, manure, and straw.

“Digestate is liquid and has a strong odor”

❌ MYTH: After spending more than 60 days in the process at high temperatures, the digested material loses the gases that cause odors. It is stable, odorless, and resembles damp soil; in the case of Biorig, it is used as organic fertilizer.

“El biometano genera empleo rural”

✅ FACT: It creates direct and indirect jobs and boosts the local economy. The Friedland plant employs about 20 people in both direct and indirect roles, most of whom are residents of the municipality.

“Plants contaminate aquifers”

❌ MYTH: The facilities are sealed and monitored, allowing for greater control than the current system for managing agricultural and livestock waste. In addition, it regulates the flow of nutrients through waste collection and the delivery of certified organic fertilizers.

Know to Decide

The visit to Germany with residents of Castellanos de Villiquera (Salamanca) is part of Biorig’s strategy to promote understanding and transparency among its various stakeholders. Showcasing real, established, and fully operational examples helps put the company’s projects in Spain into context and explains, using data and proven experience, how these facilities work.

Biorig promotes a circular economy model based on the recovery of agricultural and livestock waste, the production of renewable gas, and the development of the regions where it operates. In regions such as Castile and León, where Biorig is implementing a development plan for ten biomethane plants, these types of outreach initiatives are key to explaining the role of such infrastructure in decarbonization, the efficient management of agricultural and livestock waste, and the strengthening of the primary sector.

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