La biofactoría de Guijuelo transforma los desechos de la industria agroalimentaria en biocombustible para viajar a la luna
The Guijuelo biofactory transforms waste from the agri-food industry into biofuel to travel to the moon
- This morning, Aqualia presented at the Guijuelo wastewater treatment plant (Salamanca) a biofactory project in which the waste generated by the agri-food industry, together with sludge from the plant, is transformed into energy, biofuels, bioplastics and biofertilisers
- The 3,000 tons of bio-waste that are treated in the biofactory, originating from local industry, are converted into enough biofuel to supply 50 vehicles, which already circulate in the municipality with the biomethane obtained from the wastewater treatment plant installations. The total potential for biofuel production would be the equivalent of taking a weekly trip to the moon
- Aqualia's circular bioeconomy initiative at the Guijuelo wastewater treatment plant has transformed the traditional concept of water 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, biofertilisers and biodegradable plastics is already a reality in the biofactory developed by Aqualia at the Guijuelo wastewater treatment plant (Salamanca). The mayor of this town in the province of Salamanca, Roberto Marín, together with a number of representatives from the Castile-León Regional Government verified the installations first-hand yesterday at a presentation event.
The agri-food industry is an important economic engine in Salamanca, and the management of its waste poses an important challenge since it entails significant costs. Faced with this concern, the Guijuelo Municipality, Aqualia and the Guijuelo Slaughterhouse (MAGUISA) joined forces in 2019 with TeCH4+ and Bionet Engineering to develop a solution at the local wastewater treatment plant included in the ADVISOR innovation project, with the aim of maximising 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 travel up to 2,000 kilometres. This means that making use of 100% of the renewable biogas obtained from the 3,000 tons of bio-waste currently treated in the biofactory would enable a car to make a round-trip to the moon 80 times a year, more than one trip a week to the moon.
Two vehicles are already powered by the biomethane obtained from the water treatment plant installations. The biogas plant can supply up to 50 vehicles, making use of part of the biogas obtained as a result of the transformation of 3,000 tons of bio-waste that is currently treated at the Guijuelo biofactory.
"Advisor is proof of Aqualia's commitment to Guijuelo and its innovation", the mayor of Guijuelo pointed out during his speech at the event held this morning.
The presentation of the Guijuelo biofactory was broadcast via streaming for more than 200 spectators and enjoyed the participation of all the agents involved in the biofactory: Paz Gomez, project manager for the AINIA technology centre; 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 for Novamont Iberia. After the speeches, the delegation visited the installations to learn in situ about the biofactory's installations and operation.
The INTERCONECTA ADVISOR project, with which Aqualia started in 2019 at the Guijuelo wastewater treatment plant, established the bases from which to advance in the Biofactory. The European Commission recently placed its confidence in Aqualia to lead the REWAISE European Consortium that aims to implement innovative solutions for the circular economy and digitalisation in the region. This involves a commitment to the continuity and promotion of innovative solutions for the end-to-end water cycle in the Salamanca region.
Aqualia's circular bioeconomy initiative at the Guijuelo WWTP has transformed the traditional concept of water 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 to the management of the water service in the town, contributing to the generation of bioproducts, renewable energy and biofuels to meet the Carbon Neutral Goal for 2050, in line with SDG 11 "Cities and Sustainable Communities "and SDG 12" Responsible Consumption and Production".
