Paz Gomez
AINIA Technology Centre
Spain
Title: Sustainable small-scale biogas production from agro-food waste for energy self-sufficiency (BIOGAS3 project)
Biography
Biography: Paz Gomez
Abstract
The aim of BIOGAS3 is to promote the sustainable production of renewable energy from the biogas obtained of agricultural residues and food and beverage industry waste (agro-food waste) in small-scale concepts for energy self-sufficiency. Despite its multiple benefits, anaerobic digestion (AD) is not yet widely implemented in the agro-food sectors. New sustainable AD concepts are needed to increase the demand of biogas solutions. The project strategy includes: i) Analysis of the needs of end-users. ii) Development of tools to address these needs. iii) on-field actions to bring the developed tools to the end-users, including training sessions, workshops, webinars, etc.
The main results of the project are summarized below: .
1) Sustainable small-scale AD models based on existing technologies of small-scale AD to serve as examples for potentially interested agro-food companies. .
2) Business collaboration models and smallBIOGAS software to evaluate the sustainability of new small scale biogas plants. .
3) Build-up of skills and awareness on small-scale AD through on-line and face-to-face trainings, live webinars, etc. (ongoing). .
4) Set the ground for new investments in agro-food companies with potential to implement small-scale AD (ongoing). .
The activities to date point to a growing interest in the small-scale biogas production for energy self-consumption, especially in the countries where policies supporting renewables are changing. The agro-food sub-sectors with higher interest are those that have high energy consumption and significant waste generation, and the waste management is costly. The biogas plant constructors are ready to provide small-scale solutions to the agro-food industry. Several examples exist with proven economic feasibility.
The main results of the project are summarized below: .
1) Sustainable small-scale AD models based on existing technologies of small-scale AD to serve as examples for potentially interested agro-food companies. .
2) Business collaboration models and smallBIOGAS software to evaluate the sustainability of new small scale biogas plants. .
3) Build-up of skills and awareness on small-scale AD through on-line and face-to-face trainings, live webinars, etc. (ongoing). .
4) Set the ground for new investments in agro-food companies with potential to implement small-scale AD (ongoing). .
The activities to date point to a growing interest in the small-scale biogas production for energy self-consumption, especially in the countries where policies supporting renewables are changing. The agro-food sub-sectors with higher interest are those that have high energy consumption and significant waste generation, and the waste management is costly. The biogas plant constructors are ready to provide small-scale solutions to the agro-food industry. Several examples exist with proven economic feasibility.