The La Sentiu de Sió biogas plant has caught the attention of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the agricultural sector for its capacity to transform livestock waste into renewable energy and reusable resources for the countryside. The plant has been included in the provisional resolution proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture to subsidize biogas installations, which contemplates a total of 43 million euros for 17 projects throughout Catalonia. They will be allocated 32.6 million euros to biogas plants, such as La Sentiu, which will receive 4.5 millionand others 10.4 million euros for the treatment of digestateswhich are organic materials obtained from anaerobic digestion that will be recycled as fertilizers. The Biogas Strategy of the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda includes this financing to reduce pollutant emissions and promote a circular economy.
An energy and environmental solution for the region
The Sentiu de Sió project, promoted by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and the local developer Connect Bioenergyis not limited to the production of clean energy. In addition to generating biomethane from the waste of more than 220 local rancherswith an estimated production capacity in 200 GWh per yearhe equivalent to the consumption of 23,000 homesthe plant will contribute to resolving the excessive accumulation of nitrates in the soil and water.
Manure and other livestock waste have been a topic of concern in Lleida and other intensive agricultural areas, since their uncontrolled use as fertilizers has generated contamination in aquifers and soils. When converting up 450,000 tons of this waste into energy and reusable nutrients, the new biogas plant will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 68,000 tons of CO2 per year.
A boost to the local economy
The project has just received the approval of the Urban Planning Commissionso it is already in the public exhibition phase and its construction is expected to begin at the beginning of next year, when its promoters also have the construction license. This plant will represent an advance in the production of renewable energy and an economic boost for the region, since it is estimated that Various direct jobs will be created in its operation phase.
Additionally, by injecting biomethane into the existing natural gas network, the plant will contribute to the diversification of energy sources and to the stability of supply, while the waste will be recirculated as fertilizers for agricultural production, closing the circular economy cycle.