At the Valdemingómez Technology Park (PTV), the Mayor of Madrid José Luis Martínez-Almeida launched the expansion of the facility where biogas from organic matter is transformed into biomethane, “a good example of proper waste management” and that demonstrates “the importance of the circular economy, it allows gas to be supplied to 500 EMT buses throughout the year or to 20,000 households in the city,” explained Almeida.
Almeida stressed that the biomethane plant was the first national facility of this type, and is not only the largest waste plant in Europe, but also a reference for other administrations that look to it to implement “pioneering projects such as those developed here, in tune with “the commitment that the City Council has with the people of Madrid, to improve their quality of life while implementing policies that make Madrid a benchmark city in sustainability and that allow its economic development,” he commented.
The reform of this infrastructure began in July 2021 and has now been completed after nine months of works. Until now, the plant injected up to 100 GWh/year of thermal energy. The increase in its capacity will make it possible to inject 80% more of this renewable gas into the gas network, that is, it will increase the energy injected to 180 GWht, which also means the reduction of more than 43,500 equivalent tons of CO2 per year.
The work, carried out and financed by PREZERO (the plant’s operating company), had a total budget of €6.9 million, of which €656,000 were subsidized by the European Union within the framework of the first call for aid to investment in thermal energy production facilities from renewable energy sources that are financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The project contributes to the achievement of the objectives set in the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 (PNIEC) on the participation of renewable energies in the final use of energy, which is established at 42% by 2030. Likewise, The Madrid 360 Environmental Sustainability Strategy is based on measures that promote the circular economy to contribute to the fight against climate change.
The PTV biomethane complex consists of two anaerobic digestion plants, Las Dehesas and La Paloma, which produce two materials from the organic matter of the waste: biogas and digestate.
The biogas is purified at the now expanded biogas treatment plant, which transforms it into biomethane and injects it into the gas network, and can be used for the same uses as natural gas (boilers, refueling of buses, trucks, cars, industrial use), but with a renewable or green origin. The digestate is subjected to a composting process to obtain organic amendments or fertilizers for the soil (compost). This treatment is carried out at the La Paloma Plant.
In May, the Madrid City Council will start work on a new plant to expand the organic treatment capacity with a budget of €42 million.
Source: Madrid City Council
