The objective is to develop innovative solutions that contribute to sustainability and energy efficiency in key sectors such as agri-food, chemical, and environmental industries.
The agreement was signed by Manuel García, President of AINIA, and Luis Puchades, President of the Spanish Biogas Association (AEBIG), who reaffirmed their commitment to the development of biogas and biomethane as sustainable energy sources.
Driving innovation in biogas
The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in strategic areas such as the valorization of organic waste through anaerobic digestion, optimization of processes to improve biogas and biomethane production, and treatment and use of digestate for agronomic purposes. They will also work on characterizing and quantifying available substrates for biogas production, developing new technologies for organic waste pretreatment, and improving methods for optimizing and monitoring biogas plants. New applications for biogas will be explored, such as its conversion into high-value-added chemicals through the Gas2Chemicals process.
AINIA: A biogas benchmark
AINIA, a pioneering center in Spain for the development of biogas and biomethane, has more than 20 years of experience in various biogas and renewable energy projects. Its research has enabled the quantification and characterization of agro-food by-products suitable for biogas production, design of high-productivity co-digestion mixtures, optimization of conventional production processes, and the development of new high-yield processes. They have also identified and solved inhibition problems, developed digestate valorization processes, enhanced understanding of biological biogas purification processes, and advanced CO₂ bioconversion processes with simultaneous purification into biomethane.
Among its most recent projects is UPBIOMET+, focused on developing innovative anaerobic digestion technology to increase in situ biomethane production through the transformation of CO₂ into additional methane. This initiative aims to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in industrial processes. Another key project is COMBOI, which works on converting CO₂ and methane into high-value biobased products through a combination of biotechnology and catalysis.
Spanish biogas Association
Founded in 2009, the Spanish Biogas Association (AEBIG) is a non-profit organization that promotes biogas as a renewable energy source that respects the environment, reduces emissions, valorizes waste, recovers nutrients, generates renewable energy like biomethane, produces bioproducts such as biofertilizers, and contributes to rural development.
It represents the entire value chain of the sector, including plant developers, engineering firms, technology providers, equipment suppliers, energy companies, and research and academic institutions from Spain, as well as France, Italy, Germany, and Austria. Recognized by public administrations, universities, and research centers as the leading biogas representative entity, AEBIG actively participates in national and international forums and congresses and is a founding member of the European Biogas Association (EBA).
