Treatment of livestock waste for the production of biomethane to use it in agricultural vehicles and biofertilizers

Goals and planification

The main goal is to prove the feasibility of a new livestock waste management system, by treating it and using it, taking into account the techno-economic and environmental aspects. The plan is to develop the project in a pig fattening farm in Soria managed by the COPISO cooperative, one of the partners of the project.

The prototype will use microalgae biotechnology for the upgrading process and the biomethane production and will have the capacity to supply fuel to two light vehicles. In addition — and promoting circular economy-based processes —, biofertilizer will be obtained from algal biomass.

Together with the sustainable management of livestock waste, the second cornerstone of the project is gas generation from renewable origin (biomethane), to be used in vehicles. The production of this gas has a dual purpose: the generation of a low-emission gas (biofuel) to support a low-emission economy, and to support the economic feasibility of the management model, providing a financial income linked to the commercialization of this gas. Thus, it is clear that there is a need to develop a gas management model, both from an environmental point of view (emissions), and from a marketing point of view, that could help develop rural areas. This kind of models support sustainable rural development: environmental benefits, income diversification for the farmers and the forest exploitation owners, employment in rural enterprises and new business opportunities, which could create new sources of income that supports essential public services and infrastructure in rural areas.

Project funded, LIFE19 CCM ES 001206