Galicia-Based Project Has Produced Enough Biogas to Travel 135,000 km

(NGV Journal/EnergyLab) With the assistance of the Minister of Economy, Business and Industry of the Xunta de Galicia, Francisco Conde López, the presentation of the results of the Renewable Gas Mixed Research Unit, developed by Naturgy and the EnergyLab Technology Center, was held at Edar (WWTP) de Bens facilities. This is a pilot project that already made possible that a regular bus covered 100,000 kilometers and, in its full development phase, it can generate enough biomethane to reduce 6,600 tons of CO2 per year with respect to natural gas.

The Mixed Unit made possible the implementation of two biogas purification facilities: the first, a pioneer at the national level, is a membrane plant; while the second, one of the few in the world, is capable of transforming the CO2 of a stream of biogas into methane through biological methanization. Thanks to these technologies, a renewable gas stream is generated that can be used as an alternative fuel for mobility or for injection into the gas network.

The project, which started in 2017, is funded by the European Union under the FEDER Galicia 2014-2020 Operational Program, and is co-financed by the Galician Agency of Innovation (GAIN). One of the milestones of the project was the installation of a natural gas station at the Bens treatment plant that delivers fuel to a regular-line bus, adapted for bi-fuel operation, for around 100,000 km. In addition, it supplied three vans serving Edar Bens SA, which covered more than 35,000 km, which meant a reduction of about 60 tons of CO2.

The main results of the project were presented by the head of EnergyLab’s mobility and infrastructure area, David Meana, who stressed “the importance of the capillarity of this project, which has involved more than 100 people who participated directly or indirectly in the different phases of the project.”

Moreover, Conde López highlighted the important success achieved with this project, and noted that “Galicia is anticipating the new challenges of Spain and Europe with innovative and pioneering solutions creating quality employment that can consolidate our productive fabric.”

To analyze this extremely positive scenario for natural and renewable gas and sustainable mobility, and evaluate the latest technological developments in alternative fuels, AltFuels Iberia 2020 will be held on 5-9 October at IFEMA Trade Fair Center in Madrid. The event will feature first level conferences and exhibition of vehicles of all kinds, refueling stations, components, plants, and road and marine engines, among other things, with multiple networking and business options. For more information, please contact info@altfuelsiberia.com. READ MORE