Biogas use could cover the annual energy consumption of Barcelona homes

During a seminar, held today in Barcelona by the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation in collaboration with the Regional Government of Catalonia, various experts underlined that the use of this energy source could reduce the country's energy dependence and minimise environmental impact.

According to a report by IDAE, Spain is the seventh largest biogas producer in Europe and has a potential available energy of 1.695 ktoe per year, equivalent to the annual thermal and electricity consumption of Barcelona homes.

Spain currently has 15 biogas plants that use municipal solid waste as feedstock, which along with slurry treatment plants, could generate enough energy to move a fleet of 750,000 vehicles.

Today, the Minister for Business and Employment of the Regional Government of Catalonia, Felip Puig, and the Managing Director of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, Martí Solà, opened the seminar "Biogas. A new energy source”, in which they analysed the potential of this new source of energy for generating electricity and heat, for partially feeding natural gas networks and for use as a vehicle fuel. The seminar was closed by the Director General for Energy, Mines and Industrial Security of the Regional Government of Catalonia, Pere Palacín.

Biogas is a combustible gas generated through processes of decomposition of organic matter, which can be generated from waste with a high organic content (sourced from agricultural, livestock, industrial, commercial and domestic activities and from landfills and wastewater) or from specific energy-related agricultural practices. According to the report “The situation and potential of biogas generation”, Spain is the seventh largest biogas producer in Europe and has a potential available energy of 1.695 ktoe per year, equivalent to the annual thermal and electricity consumption of Barcelona homes. More than 65% of the biogas that could be used would be generated from livestock waste.

During the seminar, which was attended by around 150 professionals, several experts emphasised that the combined use of biomethane and natural gas would allow the country to decrease its energy dependence and help it achieve the European Union's environmental targets.

A technician from the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN)'s Department of Energy Management, Albert Salas, explained the METHAmorphosis project, led by FCC AQUALIA, with the participation of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, FCC, the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, SEAT and ICAEN. The project aims to present two innovative treatment systems for municipal solid waste and pig waste that generate biomethane for light and heavy vehicles. The speaker said that by incorporating slurry in the 15 already existing biogas plants in Spain, enough biogas could be generated to move a float of 750,000 vehicles.

Biogas Project Manager at GAS NATURAL FENOSA Engineering María Piedad Martínez presented the operating principles and the advantages and disadvantages of the different technologies available to produce biomethane from biogas and solid biomass. Grupo HERA Energy Director Miquel Torrente explained how biogas enrichment technology works via chemical absorption through amines, developed by HERA, describing its advantages and the degree of implementation of the enrichment processes and biogas upgrading in the European Union.

The Director of the Biomass Department at the National Centre for Renewable Energies (CENER) Javier Gil explained the main motivations behind developing biomethane produced from synthesis gas and analysed the product's production costs and potential value. Simulations and previous studies show that production costs would range between 40-70 €/MWh, less than the international price of biodiesel (83 €/MWh) and of bioethanol (85 €/MWh).

Practical examples of biogas use

The Managing Director of the Natural Environment and Biodiversity of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Environment of the Regional Government of Catalonia, Antoni Trasobares, and professor of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Autonomous Universitat de Barcelona (UAB), Jordi Bartrolí, proposed plans to build a bio-refinery in Catalonia. The plant would have several chemical platforms where different types of agricultural, forestry, pig, municipal and industrial waste will be combined with co-digestion and pyrolysis technology to generate biomethane that could be injected into natural gas networks, as well as other biofuels and chemical compounds.

Finally, the Managing Director of Technical System Management at Gas Natural Distribución, a distribution subsidiary of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, Raúl Font, stated that the injection of biomethane into the natural gas network opens the possibility of distributing and consuming a nationally produced gas, minimising dependence on fuel imports. Font stressed that the gas injections must be compatible with the technical and safety requirements in practice throughout Europe and that a regulatory framework must be devised to establish rules for each of the agents involved, as well as an economic regime to promote its implementation.

The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation

The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, founded in 1992, targets its activity at the promotion of information, training and increased social awareness on improving energy efficiency and technological innovation in the field of energy while respecting and protecting the environment, and promotes cultural activities through the Gas Museum aimed at preserving and spreading knowledge about the historical and cultural heritage of the sector. It also has a programme to support exports for small and medium-sized enterprises. Its international operations take place in Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Morocco, Italy and Moldova.

Barcelona (Spain), 21 May 2015

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