April 20, 2023
Spain’s first livestock biomethane producer to inject 115 GWh into gas grid
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Spain’s first livestock biomethane producer to inject 115 GWh into gas grid
Axpo Iberia and Sorigué have decided to give an important boost to the biomethane plant at Torre Santamaría with the acquisition of an 80% stake in the plant and the intention to invest an additional EUR 15 million in this project.
Following the signing in 2020 of the first long-term biomethane sale and purchase agreement in Spain between the Torre Santamaria farm and Axpo Iberia, the project began injecting biomethane into the gas grid in February 2022, following an investment of EUR 4 million.
With this, Axpo Iberia delivered a pioneering project in Spain by using exclusively livestock waste from the Torre Santamaría farm for the production of biomethane. The plant currently injects 26 gigawatt-hours (GWh) each year into the gas distribution network.
Following the acquisition of 80% of the shares of the company that owns the biomethane plant (Noguera Renovables) by Axpo Iberia and Sorigué (40% Axpo Iberia, 40% Sorigué, 20% TSM), this second phase is intended to give a major boost to the project, increasing production to 115 GWh per year, a highly significant contribution to achieving the environmental, energy and climate objectives proposed by the European Union for 2030.
The expansion of the project and the purchase and sale operation is currently awaiting approval from the competent regulatory authorities and is subject to the consideration of a strategic project, as it meets the requirements for investment: creation of direct jobs (estimated at around 35); volume of purchases, services and supplies for the production process of more than 40% from suppliers with production headquarters in Catalonia; and incorporation of actions in the field of renewable energies, circular economy and environmental sustainability.
Circular economy
This project makes the Torre Santamaría farm a practical and pioneering example of the circular economy, as it converts all of its agri-food waste into biomethane, which is injected directly into the grid.
An estimated 17 million tonnes of slurry are generated in Catalonia alone. With the transformation of methane gas into biomethane, clean energy is obtained for direct consumption on farms or for injection into the gas grid, as in the case at Torre Santamaría.
Following the signing in 2020 of the first long-term biomethane sale and purchase agreement in Spain between the Torre Santamaria farm and Axpo Iberia, the project began injecting biomethane into the gas grid in February 2022, following an investment of EUR 4 million.
With this, Axpo Iberia delivered a pioneering project in Spain by using exclusively livestock waste from the Torre Santamaría farm for the production of biomethane. The plant currently injects 26 gigawatt-hours (GWh) each year into the gas distribution network.
Following the acquisition of 80% of the shares of the company that owns the biomethane plant (Noguera Renovables) by Axpo Iberia and Sorigué (40% Axpo Iberia, 40% Sorigué, 20% TSM), this second phase is intended to give a major boost to the project, increasing production to 115 GWh per year, a highly significant contribution to achieving the environmental, energy and climate objectives proposed by the European Union for 2030.
The expansion of the project and the purchase and sale operation is currently awaiting approval from the competent regulatory authorities and is subject to the consideration of a strategic project, as it meets the requirements for investment: creation of direct jobs (estimated at around 35); volume of purchases, services and supplies for the production process of more than 40% from suppliers with production headquarters in Catalonia; and incorporation of actions in the field of renewable energies, circular economy and environmental sustainability.
Circular economy
This project makes the Torre Santamaría farm a practical and pioneering example of the circular economy, as it converts all of its agri-food waste into biomethane, which is injected directly into the grid.
An estimated 17 million tonnes of slurry are generated in Catalonia alone. With the transformation of methane gas into biomethane, clean energy is obtained for direct consumption on farms or for injection into the gas grid, as in the case at Torre Santamaría.
In addition to obtaining energy in the form of biomethane, a series of by-products in the form of organic and ecological fertilisers are obtained after the treatment of the organic waste discarded from the process, which in turn are reused as fertiliser for the pastures that the cows will again consume.
Sorigué expands its commitment to renewable energies
Sorigué is a leading business group in the city services, water cycle, infrastructures and materials, and renewable energy sectors. The group develops renewable electricity generation projects through solar farms, self-consumption and distributed generation. It also develops projects for the improvement of energy efficiency in industrial facilities and buildings
With sustainability at the core of its activity, Sorigué actively participates in R&D&I projects on the green economy, energy efficiency, decarbonisation and sustainable construction, among others.
Since December 2022, Sorigué has joined the biomethane generation project with the aim of expanding its commitment to projects linked to the circular economy and renewable energies. In this project, the business group is not only seeking to make energy from organic livestock waste, but is also committed to sharing its know-how in the field of waste transport, management and treatment, as well as in the reuse of nutrients.
Torre Santamaría Farm
In 2011, the Torre Santamaría farm, located in the town of Balaguer (Lleida) and dedicated to the production and sale of milk, became the first livestock farm in Spain to produce its own energy by installing a biogas plant that decomposes manure to transform it into electricity, heating and hot water for internal use; it was also the first to inject biomethane directly into the gas network. The farm currently has 2,300 milk-producing cows, capable of producing 24 million litres of milk per year.
Axpo Iberia
Axpo Group is the largest producer of renewable energies in Switzerland and an international leader in trading and marketing solar and wind energy. With a workforce of 5,000 employees and operations in more than 30 countries in Europe and the United States, it develops innovative solutions by combining more than 100 years of experience with its ability to innovate for a sustainable energy future.
Axpo Iberia has been managing the largest independent portfolio of renewable energy plants on the Iberian Peninsula for more than 15 years and offers products and services in Spain and Portugal, ranging from electricity and gas supply to energy efficiency and trading of electricity, gas, biomass, guarantees of origin and CO2.
Sorigué expands its commitment to renewable energies
Sorigué is a leading business group in the city services, water cycle, infrastructures and materials, and renewable energy sectors. The group develops renewable electricity generation projects through solar farms, self-consumption and distributed generation. It also develops projects for the improvement of energy efficiency in industrial facilities and buildings
With sustainability at the core of its activity, Sorigué actively participates in R&D&I projects on the green economy, energy efficiency, decarbonisation and sustainable construction, among others.
Since December 2022, Sorigué has joined the biomethane generation project with the aim of expanding its commitment to projects linked to the circular economy and renewable energies. In this project, the business group is not only seeking to make energy from organic livestock waste, but is also committed to sharing its know-how in the field of waste transport, management and treatment, as well as in the reuse of nutrients.
Torre Santamaría Farm
In 2011, the Torre Santamaría farm, located in the town of Balaguer (Lleida) and dedicated to the production and sale of milk, became the first livestock farm in Spain to produce its own energy by installing a biogas plant that decomposes manure to transform it into electricity, heating and hot water for internal use; it was also the first to inject biomethane directly into the gas network. The farm currently has 2,300 milk-producing cows, capable of producing 24 million litres of milk per year.
Axpo Iberia
Axpo Group is the largest producer of renewable energies in Switzerland and an international leader in trading and marketing solar and wind energy. With a workforce of 5,000 employees and operations in more than 30 countries in Europe and the United States, it develops innovative solutions by combining more than 100 years of experience with its ability to innovate for a sustainable energy future.
Axpo Iberia has been managing the largest independent portfolio of renewable energy plants on the Iberian Peninsula for more than 15 years and offers products and services in Spain and Portugal, ranging from electricity and gas supply to energy efficiency and trading of electricity, gas, biomass, guarantees of origin and CO2.
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