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

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.

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.