Advanced BioFuels USA

(Aqualia (Google Translation)) • Aqualia has presented this morning (September 16, 20212) at the Guijuelo (Salamanca) treatment plant the biofactory project in which the waste generated by the agri-food industry, together with the sludge from the plant, is transformed into energy, biofuels, bioplastics and biofertilizers

• The 3,000 tons of bio-waste that are treated in the biofactory, coming from local industry, are converted into enough biofuel to supply 50 vehicles, which already circulate through the municipality with the biomethane obtained at the treatment plant facilities. The total potential for biofuel production would be the equivalent of taking a weekly trip to the moon 

• Aqualia’s initiative for circular bioeconomy in the Guijuelo treatment plant has transformed the traditional concept of treatment plants, turning them into biofactories with a high impact on the regional economy, reducing the sector’s ecological footprint and serving as an economic engine for the region

Transforming waste from the agri-food industry into high added value products such as energy, biofuels, biofertilizers and biodegradable plastics is already a reality in the biofactory developed by Aqualia in the Guijuelo treatment plant (Salamanca). The mayor of the Salamanca town, Roberto Marín, together with various representatives of the Junta de Castilla y León have verified this first-hand this morning at the presentation event of the facilities. 

The agri-food industry is an important economic engine in Salamanca, and the management of its waste poses a significant challenge as it carries a significant cost. Faced with this concern, the Guijuelo City Council, Aqualia and the Guijuelo Slaughterhouse (MAGUISA) joined forces in 2019 with TeCH4 + and Bionet Engineering to develop the solution proposed in the ADVISOR innovation project in the local treatment plant, with the aim of maximizing the use of bio-waste in existing infrastructures. 

Víctor Monsalvo, head of Aqualia’s Eco-efficiency area, and Marta Casao, head of Aqualia’s Zone I Treatment Department, presented the results this morning after three years of research, development and implementation of the new solutions. With the treatment of one ton of the bio-waste studied in Guijuelo, biogas is obtained to circulate up to 2,000 kilometers . This means that the use of 100% of the renewable biogas obtained from the 3,000 tons of bio-waste currently treated in the biofactory would allow driving the distance to and from the moon 80 times a year , more than one lunar trip to the week.

Two vehicles already circulate with the biomethane obtained in the treatment plant facilities. The biogas plant can supply up to 50 vehicles, taking advantage of part of the biogas obtained thanks to the transformation of the 3,000 tons of bio-waste that for now are treated in the Guijuelo biofactory .

“Advisor is proof of Aqualia’s commitment to Guijuelo and its innovation”, highlighted the mayor of Guijuelo during his speech at the event held this morning.

The presentation of the Guijuelo biofactory has been broadcast in streaming for more than 200 viewers and has had the participation of all the agents involved in the biofactory: Paz Gómez, project manager of the AINIA technology center; Luis Picado, CEO of Maguisa; Alfredo Ingelmo, farmer; Sofía González, head of the GR Calvera Virtual Gas Pipeline division; Pedro Cotera, Manager of the Urban Bus Area, Scania Ibérica; and Rosa Puig Moré, marketing director of Novamont Iberia. After the interventions, the delegation visited the facilities to learn about the facilities and operation of the biofactory in situ.

The INTERCONECTA ADVISOR project, with which Aqualia started in 2019 in the Guijuelo treatment plant, established the bases on which to advance in the Biofactory. Recently, the European Commission has placed in Aqualia the confidence of leading the REWAISE European Consortium that aims to implement innovative solutions for the circular economy and digitalization in the region. Thus, it is committed to the continuity and promotion of innovative solutions in the integral water cycle in the Salamanca region. 

Aqualia’s circular bioeconomy initiative at the Guijuelo WWTP has transformed the traditional concept of treatment plants, turning them into biofactories with a high impact on the regional economy, reducing the sector’s ecological footprint and serving as an economic engine for the region. A real example of the added value that Aqualia contributes in the management of the water service in the town, contributing to the generation of bioproducts, renewable energy and biofuels to achieve the Carbon Neutral Objective for 2050, in line with the SDG 11 “Cities and Sustainable Communities ”and SDG 12“ Responsible Consumption and Production ”.  READ MORE