Eight companies with interests in the development of biogas and biomethane in Spain have today established the Biogas Section of APPA Renovables.

The Section aims to defend the interests of the sector and help establish a regulatory and financial framework that will enable the promotion of these projects in the country.

Renewable gases, due to their role in the valorization and treatment of by-products from the livestock, agricultural industries, and biological waste from households and businesses, play a crucial role in both the circularity of our economy and the decarbonization of our society.

The new section, APPA Biogás, is made up of promoter and producer companies that are familiar with the challenges faced by biogas and biomethane plants, the specifics of working with renewable molecules, and will now have a voice to claim the specific treatment they need.

Spain is the third European country in terms of absolute bioenergy resources, yet it ranks low in the European ranking of utilizing these resources.

Thus, it is the European country with the greatest increase in forests (with an annual increase of 2.2% compared to the European average of 0.51%), the world’s largest olive oil producer, and the largest producer of pig livestock in Europe. The pork industry in Spain alone generates more than 50 million tons of slurry annually, which must be treated.

In this context, and considering the 1.3% increase in natural gas consumption in the country last year, it is more necessary than ever to promote the development of biogas and biomethane generation plants in Spain. These would not only reduce this dependency but also generate local, quality employment linked to existing industries.

A New Section for an Old Need

Spain has significant potential in terms of biomethane. The country could cover about 40% of its natural gas needs with biomethane, decarbonizing sectors that face difficulties in electrification.

According to José María González Moya, Director General of the Association, “Decarbonization in Spain requires the electrification of many fossil fuel uses, but there are industrial processes and local needs near the generation point that can be covered by renewable gases.” He also stated that “the right to inject into the grid, removing the existing barriers, will be one of the objectives pursued by the association. This is the purpose behind the creation of this new section of APPA Renovables.”

Crucial for Industry and Transport Decarbonization

The production of biogas involves the capture and use of methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more harmful than CO2, so promoting these technologies in Spain will help meet decarbonization targets.

Additionally, the treatment of organic waste (agricultural waste, manure, organic municipal solid waste, etc.) via anaerobic digestion makes waste management more efficient by reducing the fraction that ends up in landfills. One of the by-products of biogas, digestate, serves as an organic fertilizer, reducing the need for artificial chemical products in crops.

After purification of biogas and its conversion to biomethane, it can be directly injected into natural gas transport and distribution networks, effectively reducing emissions associated with all subsequent uses of this fossil fuel.

From high-temperature industrial processes that do not have a simple electrification path to its use in heavy transport or combustion in boilers, biomethane provides an additional way to reduce emissions and fossil fuel imports in the transport and heating sectors.