The project has been chosen as the best after six months of incubation of the twelve projects selected among all requests received to be part of the programConnecting Energy. The biomixing project, which has received a prize of 25,000 euros to develop its solution, consists of a disruptive mixing system for bioreactors, with application in sectors such as sanitary or energy.
In the latter case, this technology can be used to reduce process times and energy consumption of current biogas plants.
After being winners, Biomixing will work with Naturgy at a pilot plant to test its technology, although the previous tests carried out advent a 50% reduction in energy consumption in renewable gas generation plants.
Naturgy innovation head, Jesús Chapado, has highlighted the potential of the project to optimize processes in biomethane plants, in addition to value the program ‘Connecting Energy’ as promoter of sustainable innovation. “Our goal is to develop an ecosystem that allows addressing a collaborative and open innovation, capable of responding quickly to the signals of change in the environment,” says Chapado.
The winning project
Biomixing is an initiative that emerged in 2022 as a spin-off of the Department of Aerospace and Fluid Engineering of the University of Seville, and that is dedicated to the optimization of bioreactors.
Its technology will significantly reduce process times and energy consumption of biogas plants. It can be applied both in new construction plants, which will already incorporate the design of more efficient digesters, and in those existing plants, changing their agitation system.
For Inés Herrero, founder of Biomixing, “having a demonstrative pilot plant is for us a very important milestone, which will mark a before and after in the biogas sector, and will allow us to continue exploiting the technology applied to the field of bioslations.”
Commitment to sustainable innovation
The ‘Connecting Energy’ program connects energy professionals with startups that develop projects linked to the energy transition. Through a six -month mentorization program, Naturgy professionals contribute their knowledge and experience to entrepreneurs, orienting them about the needs of the sector and helping them through specific training to develop their business plan, define their growth strategy and give them the impulse they need to achieve their objectives.
Throughout the four calls of the program, Naturgy has promoted projects of very diverse kinds, from technologies linked to efficiency in operations to sustainable mobility solutions. The platform has incubated more than 40 startups that have had a team formed by almost 50 mentors and specialists with experience in all areas of the value chain of the energy sector.