SEAT and Aqualia create the first 100% Spanish alternative fuel from waste water
SEAT is the first brand in the automotive sector in Spain to use 100% native biogas
The process of obtaining biogas from treated water is based on several R&D&I developments by Aqualia
The SMART Green Gas project is a commitment to a circular economy and urban resilience in a sustainable framework that is environmentally conscious
The full use of a vehicle fuelled by biomethane enables an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions compared with a petrol-powered vehicle
A medium sized waste water treatment plant can produce more than 1,000 m3 of biogas per day, enough for 300 vehicles to cover 15,000 km per year
SEAT and Aqualia have joined forces to develop the innovative SMART Green Gas project, which aims to obtain 100% Spanish origin, renewable biofuel from waste water to be used in compressed natural gas (CNG) powered vehicles. To kick off their collaboration, with a duration of five years, both companies this month have begun performing pilot tests in the waste water treatment plant located in Jerez. As part of their collaboration, SEAT has provided Aqualia with two SEAT Leon TGI vehicles to conduct the necessary testing with the biomethane obtained from the waste water to confirm and verify the entire production chain until the fuel is obtained and used.
This joint project constitutes a step forward in the development of a circular economy and the construction of resilient cities. In addition, it will help drive research and the creation of alternative fuels in the Spanish automotive sector by producing renewable, 100% local gas, whose main advantage is that the full use of biomethane-powered cars will enable CO2 emissions to be reduced “Well to Wheel” compared with vehicles powered by petrol.
SEAT is fully behind this collaboration, as it is a firm commitment to a genuine ecological alternative to petroleum products, and thus aligning with the company’s Compressed Natural Gas strategy (CNG) and its commitment to improving the environment. According to SEAT Vice-President for R&D Dr. Matthias Rabe, “with this development and collaboration project with Aqualia, SEAT has become the first brand in the country’s automotive sector to use 100% Spanish biomethane obtained from waste water”. “Fostering the creation of renewable alternative fuels, which help promote future environmental improvements and the long-term use of vehicles in cities are an integral part of SEAT’s CNG strategy”, added Dr. Rabe.
Aqualia general director Félix Parra pointed out that “we are working to change the current paradigm, leaving behind the model in which treatment implies a significant energy cost. This project is the result of the intense research activity developed by Aqualia to obtain valuable resources from the treatment process. Developing the Smart Green Gas project with a medium sized waste water treatment plant could potentially lead to the daily production of a million litres of biofuel, enough to power more than 300 vehicles. This would enable cities to fuel their network of urban buses, bin lorries, police cars or ambulances, among others”.
SMART Green Gas aims to optimise and make the energy System more flexible and achieve greater energy security in the EU, by providing more autonomy and sustainability to cities which implement this system in their waste water treatment plants. This is achieved through the development of new, highly efficient systems for producing biogas and converting it into biomethane, which are generated from sewage in cities’ waste water treatment plants. SMART Green Gas aims to obtain locally produced, renewable fuel that can be used in the automotive sector or injected into the natural gas distribution network.
Supported by the Centre for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI), SMART Green Gas is being developed with the participation of five partners, including Gas Natural Fenosa and Naturgas EDP, as well as public research organisations such as the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA) and the universities of Girona, Valladolid and Santiago de Compostela. SEAT is participating in conjunction with Aqualia.
SEAT is the only company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets cars in Spain. A member of the Volkswagen Group, the multinational has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona), exporting more than 80% of its vehicles, and is present in over 75 countries. In 2015, SEAT’s turnover amounted to over 8.3 billion euros, the highest in its history, and the company achieved worldwide sales of more than 400,000 units for the first time since 2007.
SEAT Group employs more than 14,000 professionals at its three production centres – Barcelona, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful Ibiza and Leon. Additionally, the company produces the Ateca and the Toledo in the Czech Republic, the Alhambra in Portugal and the Mii in Slovakia.
The multinational has a Technical Centre, which operates as a knowledge hub that brings together 1,000 engineers who are focussed on developing innovation for Spain’s largest industrial investor in R&D. SEAT already features the latest connectivity technology in its vehicle range and is currently engaged in the company’s global digitisation process to promote the mobility of the future.
Aqualia is the water management company of FCC, one of Europe’s leading services groups. The national company is Spain’s largest in the sector, the third largest private water company in Europe and the seventh largest in the world, according to the latest ranking by specialist journal Global Water Intelligence (GWI), and provides services to 22.5 million customers.
Aqualia is currently present in 1,100 municipalities in 21 countries: Spain, Italy, Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Montenegro, Bosnia, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, Algeria, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Kosovo, Tunisia, Qatar, India and Colombia. In 2015 the Company had a turnover of 1,033 million euros and achieved a business portfolio of over 14,400 million euros.
SEAT Communications
Cristina Vall-Llosada
Head of Corporate Communications
T / +34 93 708 53 78
M/ +34 646 295 296
cristina.vall-llosada@seat.es
Laura Vinagre
Corporate Communications
T / +34 93 708 53 67
M/ +34 630 328 674
laura.vinagre@seat.es
Aqualia Communications
Alberto García
Head of Media Relations
T / +34 91 757 44 05
M/ +34 696 931 772
jagarciam@fcc.es
