Raising Awareness of the Biomethane Benefits in Spain
The Spanish Renewable Gas Sector Will Collaborate to Raise Awareness of the Benefits of Biomethane in Local Communities
The presidents of the most relevant business associations in the field of renewable gases in Spain have agreed at the 4th SALÓN DEL GAS RENOVABLE to collaborate in informing municipalities and citizens about the implications of having a biogas or biomethane plant in their community.
The 4th SALÓN DEL GAS RENOVABLE was inaugurated on October 1st, at Feria de Valladolid with the attendance of Javier Díaz, president of AVEBIOM, the organizing entity; Luis Puchades, president of AEBIG, the event’s technical partner; Juan Carlos Suárez-Quiñones, Minister of Environment, Housing and Territorial Planning of the Junta of Castile and León; Alejandro Pellitero, Councilor of Environment for the City of Valladolid; and Valerie Möhring, Deputy Head of Economic Affairs of the German Embassy in Madrid.
Javier Díaz thanked the Junta of Castile and León and the City of Valladolid for their continued support of the event and highlighted “the enthusiasm of the companies, which in this edition number 250, a 23% increase over 2023, seeking to forge relationships that will result in new projects.”
Luis Puchades explained that renewable gases are more than just an energy source, as they contribute to waste management, create local jobs, and add value. “They are good, necessary, and a clear commitment to a cleaner and more sustainable future,” he said.
Alejandro Pellitero emphasized that this event places Valladolid on the map of renewable energies in Europe, aligning with the city council’s climate initiatives to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Valerie Möhring noted that renewable gases are crucial for increasing the resilience and energy sovereignty of both Spain and Germany, the guest country at the fair. “Supporting their development is part of the promise Europe has made to future generations to achieve climate neutrality,” she emphasized.
Finally, Juan Carlos Suárez-Quiñones explained that “the geopolitical situation and the obligations imposed by the EU push us to seek green solutions like biomethane.” The minister pointed out that this sector is an excellent way to manage waste, which is essential in Castile and León, where the primary sector is highly important.
Social Acceptance of the Plants is the Current Key Challenge
Javier Díaz and Luis Puchades, along with Jordi Serra, president of the Catalonia Bioenergy Cluster; Joan Batalla, president of Sedigas; and Jaime Fernández, head of the Environmental Prevention and Climate Change Service of the Junta of Castile and León, participated in a roundtable at the 17th International Bioenergy Congress. They discussed what they consider to be the most serious issue currently facing the biogas sector for its growth: the social acceptance of the plants.
Following a self-critical assessment of past projects that launched with mistakes or poor planning, the presidents of the sector associations agreed on the need to make a greater effort to understand local communities in order to demonstrate that biogas is an excellent solution, as long as the plants are adapted to local specifics.
The technology is mature, as demonstrated by the companies from around the world present at the fair, and it is well-established in other countries, which have thousands of plants generating local employment and environmental benefits through waste management.
For the sector to firmly establish itself in Spain, a joint effort between companies and public administration is required to ensure excellence in the facilities and to actively promote the positive impact they have on society.
About AVEBIOM
The Spanish Biomass Association (AVEBIOM), established in 2004, brings together the key players in the bioenergy sector along the entire biomass value chain. Its goal is to promote the development of the sector in Spain and contribute to increasing the sustainable consumption of biomass for energy purposes. Since 2006, it has organized Expobiomasa, the leading bioenergy fair in Spain and one of the most important in Europe, and since 2021, the Renewable Gas Fair, which aims to become the key event for the full deployment of biogas, biomethane, and other renewable gases in the country. www.avebiom.org
About AEBIG
The Spanish Biogas Association (AEBIG), founded in 2009, brings together companies, institutions, and professionals in the field of renewable gases in Spain. AEBIG advocates for biogas as a renewable energy source, contributing to environmental improvement and rural development. Its main mission is to promote this technology, creating a favorable environment for its development. It is also a founding member of the European Biogas Association (EBA) and a technical partner of the Renewable Gas Fair since its inception. www.aebig.org
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