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The Asturian Energy Foundation (FAEN) organised on 2 December a conference on renewable gases and their key role in the ecological transition of Asturias. The conference was attended by leading experts and representatives of the energy sector, who analysed the advances, opportunities and challenges that renewable gases such as biomethane and hydrogen represent for the region.
During the event, the Councillor for Ecological Transition, Industry and Economic Development announced the development of a regional roadmap for renewable gasesreaffirming the Principality's commitment to this key energy vector. This commitment is already beginning to be reflected in the Principality's budget, which includes a specific call for renewable gas projects, as well as significant investments. These include the 5 million for the extension of the Cogersa digester y 300,000 euros for a sewage sludge digestion plant at the Villaperi WWTP.The project will be a major initiative that will boost biogas production in Asturias.
Sedigas opened the day by giving a detailed overview of the renewable gases market in Spain and Europe, highlighting its potential not only as a source of renewable energy, but also as a tool for waste management, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, attracting investment in production plants and generating employment. Pedro Palencia de Sarriá, Sedigas Institutional Director, reaffirmed that renewable gases are a fundamental part of guaranteeing the security of energy supply in a sustainable future.
Indalecio González, from FAEN presented a diagnosis of the situation of renewable gases in Asturias, highlighting the existing resource and its great potential for use. At present, the region has five operational plants that generate 40,000 MWh of electricity per year and directly or indirectly employ about 700 people. As for the other renewable gas, he stressed that hydrogen (45,000 tonnes per year) is already produced and used in the industrial sector as a reducing agent, raw material and fuel.
Rafael Cabañeros, Director of Project Development & Execution Spain of EDP Renovables' H2 unit, shared the company's strategic initiatives, highlighting the project Asturias H2 Valleyconsidered the most advanced in Spain in its category, and the GH2Soto. For his part, Yago Somoano Rodríguez- Head of innovation at Grupo HUNOSA presented the innovative project Mine to H2which integrates an electrolyser into a geothermal heat network, and looks at advances in hydrogen storage and its use in fuel cell and combustion engine buses.
Finally, HyfiveErnesto Alvarez, Business Development Director and Mr. Gerardo Bohigues, Project Director, showed the details of their project. Musel Green metwhich aims to manufacture methanol in the port of El Musel, making use of renewable hydrogen as well as biogenic CO2 of regional origin.
The day included a specific round table dedicated to biogas and biomethane, in which four of the five operational plants in Asturias took part. Arcadio Fernández Sánchez, head of the Energy area at Cogersa presented the landfill plant and announced future projects, such as the injection of biogas into the natural gas network. Daniel Iglesias, Director of BiogasturThe company showed its Navia plant and pointed out that its biomethanisation and grid injection project will be operational in the coming months. He also stressed the importance of standardising the regulation of digestate throughout Spain and facilitating administrative procedures.
Alfredo Martín Benito. Project Manager Energy Green Gas Tineo and Mr. Jose Luis Lastra Lopez. B2B senior Advisor of Edison Next Spain, explained their project to expand the Tineo plant, with the aim of transforming biogas into liquid biomethane for transport. Lastly, Luis Fernando Navedo Natal, Head of Business Development, Alliances and PR at Nortegas, announced its intention to promote a biomethane plant using livestock waste in the centre of the region.
From FAEN We are grateful for the participation of all the speakers and the great interest shown by the attendees, as well as the valuable contributions that enriched the debate.
You can see the papers that were presented at the conference below:
