The potential construction of a large-scale biogas plant in the municipality of Loporzano , just a few kilometers from Huesca, has raised serious concerns among the local population. The project, promoted by the company Catalana de Biogás , which is linked to investment funds from Banco Sabadell, has gone from being virtually unknown to becoming one of the most sensitive issues on the local agenda in just a few weeks.
While the developer and some institutions emphasize the plant's supposed role in managing livestock waste and generating renewable energy , a large part of the community in Loporzano, Tierz, and Quicena speaks frankly of a project that is "unacceptable" due to its scale and consequences. Amid accusations of greenwashing, references to an "extractive" model, and complaints about the lack of information, the social and political tension surrounding this massive biogas plant seems far from subsiding.
A large-capacity private project just a stone's throw from Huesca
The plan proposes the construction of a biogas plant on a private property in Loporzano , near the city of Huesca. According to information provided by citizen groups and the Aragonese Institute for Environmental Management (INAGA), the facility would be designed to process up to 95.000 tons of slurry and other organic waste annually , including animal byproducts.
Residents emphasize that these figures place the initiative in the category of a large-scale industrial plant , far removed from the image of a small, local facility that, in their opinion, the company is trying to project. The project itself is presented as a solution for surplus manure and slurry within a radius of about 20 kilometers , with the capacity to serve approximately 30% of the livestock farms in the area, according to the mayor of Loporzano.
The location is one of the most controversial aspects. The plant is planned less than 5 kilometers from Huesca and very close to several populated areas and sites of heritage value. Groups opposed to the project argue that these distances disprove the idea of a facility "remote" from sensitive areas and warn that any impact would be felt over a wide radius.
The Loporzano Town Council emphasizes that this is a strictly private project , both in terms of the promoting company and the ownership of the land, and insists that the environmental processing is not in the hands of the council, but of INAGA, which must evaluate the file and set the next administrative steps.
Processing at INAGA and criticism for lack of transparency
One of the most frequent complaints from residents' associations is the lack of clear and accessible information about the large-scale plant. They point out that the project was first submitted to the Loporzano Town Hall in February 2025 and has been in the hands of INAGA (the Aragonese Institute for Environmental Management) since November, yet the file is still not available for public review.
The feeling of having been “the last to know” has been a key trigger for the social unrest. Associations and residents of Loporzano, Tierz, and Quicena assert that there has been a lack of institutional communication , both from the town council and the developer, and they are demanding a detailed explanation of the timeline, the plant's technical design, and its potential impacts.
In this context, the groups have formally requested to be recognized as stakeholders in the environmental assessment process , which would allow them access to the documentation submitted by the company and enable them to formulate more substantiated objections. Several neighborhood spokespeople maintain that without this information, it is impossible to accurately assess the scope of the project and its risks.
Another point of contention is the type of environmental assessment applicable. Following regulatory changes approved in Aragon, a plant of this type could qualify for a simplified environmental procedure . Opponents consider this approach excessively lenient for a facility of this size and demand a full, standard environmental assessment, with detailed studies and a comprehensive and thorough public consultation period.
Short distances to villages, heritage sites and the city of Huesca
The distance map used by the citizens' movement has become one of its main arguments. According to their data, the mega-plant would be located less than 700 meters from the Tierz Trenches , about 1,8 kilometers from the town center of Tierz, 2,75 kilometers from Loporzano and Quicena, and only 2,43 kilometers from Montearagón Castle , a first-rate Cultural Heritage Site in the area.
Furthermore, towns like Ola and Siétamo are located just over 3,5 kilometers away , and Huesca itself—with more than 50.000 inhabitants—is less than 5 kilometers away as the crow flies. According to spokespeople for the residents' movement, these facts preclude any suggestion that the project is isolated or disconnected from the surrounding urban and rural reality.
Community groups and platforms insist that the area is experiencing rapid residential growth , with housing developments already underway or planned in both Tierz and Quicena, including a 200-unit social housing project promoted by the Government of Aragon. They fear that the plant will negatively impact the long-term future development of these municipalities and the quality of life of new residents.
The residents believe that, instead of taking advantage of the area's potential for development linked to nature tourism, heritage and landscape quality , the mega-plant would introduce a risk factor and degradation that could tarnish its image for decades.
Health risks, environmental problems and odor issues
Reports and statements prepared by neighborhood groups highlight the potential impact of the large-scale plant on public health and the environment . The anaerobic digestion process of slurry and organic waste generates gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide , which, in the event of leaks or mismanagement, can pose risks to both people and wildlife.
In addition to the potential toxicity of some compounds, residents fear the emergence of persistent foul odors that could spread to nearby residential areas, with particular concern for Tierz, which they say is situated in the direction of prevailing winds at certain times of the year. The fear of having to live with recurring episodes of stench is one of the elements that generates the most outrage among the residents.
At the same time, concerns are being raised about the risk of nitrate contamination of aquifers in a basin already classified as particularly vulnerable, such as the Flumen River basin. The management of digestate—the residue resulting from the biogas process—and the associated ponds raises questions about potential seepage into the subsoil and the actual control that will be exercised over these discharges.
The management of animal by-products (ABP) is another area of concern. The groups fear an increase in biological risk, a proliferation of insects and rodents , and difficulties in ensuring that the waste arrives properly controlled and is treated with all necessary safeguards. The platforms insist that, although European and Spanish regulations are stringent in this area, the scale of the project requires particularly strict oversight.
The increase in heavy truck traffic , both on highways and local roads, completes the picture of impacts noted by residents. These include potential road safety problems, increased noise, dust and exhaust emissions, and added pressure on roads that are already heavily congested.
An open debate on the energy model and "greenwashing"
Beyond the purely technical aspects, the conflict has brought to the forefront a profound discussion about the desired energy and waste management model for the region. Critical groups accuse the developer of greenwashing , that is, of using green energy rhetoric to justify an activity that, in their view, is primarily driven by an extractive industrial model.
Residents argue that Loporzano already manages its own livestock and organic waste and that the plant doesn't respond to a genuine local need, but rather to the necessity of concentrating large volumes of waste from a much wider area to make the mega-facility profitable. Hence, they openly refer to the town's transformation into an "industrial dump at the service of investment funds . "
Several voices also recall the history of other biogas plants in Aragon , such as those planned in the 1990s in Altorricón and Zaidín, which ended up being closed and facing European sanctions for irregularities in their operation. In that case, it was reported that diesel fuel was being burned to produce electricity instead of actually using pig slurry as the primary raw material.
For the project's detractors, these examples illustrate the risk that the Loporzano mega-plant will ultimately prioritize investors' financial returns over environmental objectives. Hence their insistence on the need for thorough and independent oversight and a thorough debate about the types of facilities that should be permitted in such a sensitive environment.
Landscape impact and threat to Montearagón Castle
Montearagón Castle , a historical and scenic landmark of the Hoya de Huesca region, has also become a symbol of opposition to the mega-plant. The facility's proximity—approximately 2,4 kilometers according to published data—has led activist groups to warn of a visual and landscape impact they describe as irreversible.
Heritage advocates argue that the castle's surroundings are not only a historical site but also a cultural landscape that forms part of the area's identity. They fear that the presence of large industrial structures, ponds, reservoirs, and chimneys will substantially alter the perception of the whole, affecting both local residents and visitors.
For heritage groups, the value of Montearagón Castle is not measured solely in meters or kilometers . They maintain that its protection goes beyond ensuring that the structure is at a certain legal distance and that the visual integrity of the horizon and the surrounding landscape must be considered, especially in a region that aspires to strengthen its tourist appeal.
In their statements, the neighborhood associations reiterate that historical heritage is neither transferable nor compensable . They insist that, once the image of the surrounding area has been altered, it is almost impossible to reverse the situation and that any potential economic benefits of the mega-plant cannot justify the loss of a first-rate cultural asset.
Energy consumption, waste heat and effect on the environment
Another point of concern is the energy consumption of the large-scale plant and the heat generated by its continuous operation. According to documents referenced by the platforms, the facility would require approximately 1 MWh (1.000 kWh) of energy to heat the material in the digesters and accelerate fermentation, a figure comparable to the simultaneous consumption of between 400 and 500 homes equipped with heat pumps in winter.
This volume of energy raises several questions for opponents. On the one hand, they question the climate coherence of a project that, even while generating biogas, requires a high energy input to remain operational. On the other hand, they warn that the excess heat would not be utilized effectively and would be released into the environment through the hot digestate and the external ponds.
The groups insist that this thermal impact is not being sufficiently explained and are calling for a detailed analysis of its effects on the local microclimate, soils, and wildlife. Although these changes may seem minor compared to other, more visible impacts, the platforms demand that all variables be considered before a final decision is made.
In a European context where energy efficiency and the circular economy are being strongly promoted , the debate over whether the large-scale plant aligns with the spirit of EU climate policies has also entered the conversation. For critical groups, simply classifying biogas as renewable is insufficient if the plant's overall operation proves, in practice, to be energy-intensive.
Raptor corridor and nature tourism at risk
Biodiversity is another pillar of social opposition to the project. The chosen area is located in a key aerial corridor connecting the Sierra de Guara with Los Monegros , used daily by numerous birds of prey and other protected species. The Flumen Valley, the area around the Salto de Roldán waterfall, Tierz, Monflorite, and the Piracés mountain range form a mosaic of habitats of great ecological value.
Among the species that frequent this corridor are the bearded vulture, the golden eagle, the Egyptian vulture, the red kite, and the peregrine falcon , in addition to colonies of griffon vultures and other carrion-eating birds. The conservation groups fear that the construction of a large-scale biogas plant, with its associated infrastructure, could alter flight paths, increase the risk of collisions , and degrade an area that has remained relatively well-preserved until now.
The impact wouldn't be limited to wildlife. In recent years, the area around Huesca has seen a rise in nature tourism and increasingly specialized birdwatching . Guides, rural accommodations, and small ecotourism businesses have found a niche market linked precisely to the area's environmental quality and the possibility of spotting iconic species.
The residents argue that the mega-plant could weaken this economic model , which they consider more compatible with preserving the land. They fear that the noise, traffic, and the very visual presence of the facility will scare away some of the wildlife and diminish the appeal of the trails and viewpoints that currently attract visitors from all over Spain and even other European countries.
This aspect of the debate connects with broader concerns in Europe, where the compatibility between the expansion of certain renewable energies and the conservation of biodiversity is the subject of increasing discussion. Neighborhood groups are demanding that, in cases of doubt, priority be given to the protection of endangered species and the integrity of ecological corridors.
A growing and coordinated neighborhood movement with the Somontano region
Opposition to the mega-plant is not limited to a few spokespeople. Following a large meeting held in January , attended by more than 160 people, a citizens' movement has been forming, bringing together residents of Loporzano, Tierz, Quicena, and other towns in the Hoya de Huesca region . Under slogans such as "Our towns are not for sale. They must be defended," they have organized to gather information and put pressure on the authorities.
The actions undertaken include a petition campaign —both on paper and through digital platforms such as Change.org—, the creation of the Instagram channel @StopBiogasLoporzano to disseminate documents and news related to the project, and a series of meetings with the municipalities involved.
The groups are demanding that the Loporzano City Council not sign the declaration of social interest for the mega-plant, arguing that there is neither community consensus nor a solid justification of public benefit to support a facility of this size. In their view, the initiative primarily serves the economic interests of the company and its associated investment funds.
The movement has also taken shape at the regional level, in coordination with the Stop Biogas Somontano platform , which is opposing similar projects promoted by the same company in other parts of the province. This collaboration, they explain, allows them to share technical knowledge, legal expertise , and social mobilization strategies.
Spokespeople assert that this struggle is not an isolated case, but rather the expression of a pattern that is repeated in various rural areas and which, in their view, threatens to turn entire regions into large waste-receiving areas if a clear limit is not set by the competent authorities.
The vision of the Loporzano Town Council and the arguments in favor
Amidst intense public outcry, the Loporzano Town Council has maintained a significantly different position. Its mayor, David Suelves , has indicated that this is a private project that an external company wishes to locate on privately owned land within the municipality, and he believes that an “unnecessary debate” is being generated before INAGA (the Aragonese Institute for Environmental Management) issues a formal resolution.
The councilor points out that six of the seven councilors in the corporation are in favor of the mega-plant and emphasizes the benefits that, in his opinion, it could bring to a small municipality: income from building permits, increased collection of property tax and other taxes, as well as the fact that the company would establish its headquarters in Loporzano , which would increase tax returns for the local coffers.
The city council insists that the plant would be fed primarily with manure and slurry from livestock farms located within a 20-kilometer radius , ruling out the use of meat waste in the way some groups fear. The mayor argues that this would provide a useful service to the area's agricultural and livestock sector , which would generally welcome the facility's opening.
The local council also points out that the project was not processed by the City Council, but was submitted directly to INAGA . The council's role, for now, has been limited to issuing a favorable urban planning compatibility report , after confirming that the initiative meets the requirements of the current planning regulations.
As an additional argument, the mayor mentioned a visit organized by the company to a similar biogas plant in France , where, he claims, no unpleasant odors or problems with the surrounding environment were observed. In his opinion, these types of facilities, when properly managed, can operate normally and contribute to both waste recovery and renewable energy production.
An open conflict awaiting INAGA's pronouncement
With positions clearly opposed, the future of the Loporzano biogas plant will largely depend on the administrative process. All eyes are now on the Aragonese Institute for Environmental Management , which is responsible for analyzing the file, determining the applicable environmental assessment, and, if necessary, opening a formal public consultation period during which objections can be submitted.
Residents' associations are demanding that this process be carried out with maximum transparency, technical rigor, and genuine citizen participation . They hope that every aspect of the project will be examined: from the origin and exact nature of the waste to the digestate management plans, including emissions, noise, traffic, and the potential cumulative impact with other activities in the area.
In the coming weeks and months, the key will be how the public debate unfolds and what weight the institutions give to citizen claims and mobilizations. Meanwhile, the neighborhood movement will continue its information campaigns, petition drives, and political lobbying , and the Loporzano Town Council will defend to its residents the merits of a project it considers strategic for the municipality.
In a context where Spain and Europe are strongly promoting renewable energies and the circular economy , the macro biogas plant on the outskirts of Huesca has become a paradigmatic case of the tensions that can arise when large energy infrastructures approach inhabited areas, valuable natural spaces and heritage sites, forcing society to rethink where it draws the line between the ecological transition and the protection of its own territory.
