Biomethane is an efficient solution for the correct management of agricultural and livestock wastes.
By Manuel Alonso, General Manager of Biorig.
The European Union has made courageous progress in the energy transition, with wind and solar energy playing a leading role. Spain, in particular, has led the way in the deployment of renewable electricity, with more than 50% of its generation coming from clean sources. However, electrification is not enough to achieve total decarbonization of the economy.
It is in this context that green gases, such as biomethane, are presented as an essential energy source to decarbonize sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as industry and heavy transport. At the European level, biomethane has established itself as a sustainable alternative to natural gas, as it has the capacity to be stored, distributed and used according to demand, i.e. it has the same properties as fossil molecules, but contributes to the decarbonization of the economy.
In countries such as Denmark and Germany, this technology plays a key role in energy supply, representing in some cases up to 20% of the gas consumed. France has more than 700 production plants and Germany leads European production with more than 11,000 biogas and biomethane plants, while Spain has only 11 operational plants.
The European Union has set an ambitious target of reaching an annual production of 35 billion cubic meters of biomethane by 2030 as part of the REPowerEU plan. This represents a five-fold increase in the currently installed capacity, which last year reached 6.4 million cubic meters, according to the European Biogas Association (EBA).
Spain is set to be a key player in achieving these goals. According to SEDIGAS estimates, our country has the capacity to produce 163 TWh per year from renewable gas, enough to cover practically half of the demand for a year, which Enagás estimated at 311.7 TWh last year.
Decarbonization and environmental solution
In addition to its importance in the decarbonization of the economy, biomethane is an efficient solution for the correct management of agricultural and livestock waste. Spain generates millions of tons of slurry, manure and agricultural waste every year, which, if not managed correctly, can be an environmental problem.
The production of biomethane makes it possible to valorize this waste, reducing its impact on soils and groundwater, while helping farmers and livestock farmers to better manage this waste, much of which today ends up deposited in the fields without sanitization.
Anaerobic digestion, the process by which the biogas from which biomethane is obtained is extracted from agro-livestock raw materials, not only produces the green molecule to be injected into the grid, but also generates the so-called digestate. This by-product, once treated, becomes a high quality organic fertilizer, which represents a real alternative to chemical fertilizers and is in line with EU guidelines, as it reduces dependence on imported products.
At Biorig, a company from Castilla y León, we are developing more than 20 biomethane facilities, 10 of which are located in 6 provinces of Castilla y León. We are sure that these plants, besides having a positive impact on the environment, will contribute to create more wealth in the territories, quality employment, economic development and will boost the agricultural and livestock sector.
We design proximity ecosystems where we collect local agricultural and livestock waste, treat it, and produce new sustainable fertilizers for agricultural soils, promoting the circular economy, the traceability of field manure and avoiding the dumping of thousands of tons of unsanitized waste per year.
In this regard, we only use agricultural raw materials (slurry, manure and straw, mainly corn stover) from nearby farms, ensuring efficient waste management and minimizing the logistical footprint. This approach allows us to improve traceability and always generate a positive impact on local communities.
The organic fertilizer we produce from digestate is solid, odorless and approved through EU Regulation 2019/1009. Its application in agriculture not only avoids the use of chemicals, but also improves soil structure and maintains its fertility for a longer period of time.
In addition, the use of advanced technologies and compliance with strict environmental regulations ensure that our plants do not emit odors, consume water or generate waste.
A strategic opportunity for Spain
Biomethane is not only a solution to the climate crisis, but also an opportunity for economic and social development. To take advantage of it, it is essential to establish incentives that favor demand, guaranteeing competitive prices compared to fossil gas. It also requires a robust regulatory framework, clear roadmaps to streamline procedures and permits, and to help boost investment in new infrastructure.
Without these measures, we run the risk of biomethane investments migrating to other countries, losing a key tool for our energy transition. The development of renewable electricity in Spain is a success story, and now it is time to repeat the milestone with renewable gases. We have the resources and the know-how to lead this sector; now is the time to take the plunge and turn the opportunity into a reality.
