Bet González Byass by transform its energy model It continues to gain ground within the Spanish wine sector. The winery group has integrated three new renewable energy sources into its facilities, reinforcing a strategy that combines technological innovation, sustainability, and collaboration with European research centers.
A renewable energy matrix that already includes nine technologies
With the latest innovations, González Byass has configured a renewable energy matrix ranging from solar resources to underground solutionsTo the technologies already implemented –Photovoltaics, geothermal energy, green hydrogen, biomass, solar thermal energy and aerothermal energy– are now added the RCF biogas, agrivoltaics and solid oxide fuel cells.
This deployment applies to various Spanish designations of origin: González Byass in JerezBeronia in Rioja and Rueda, Vineyards of the Vero River in SomontanoVilarnau in Cava, the Chinchón Distillery (Anís de Chinchón) and Vineyards of the Tagus River in the province of ToledoTaken together, these facilities serve as real laboratory to test advanced energy solutions in an industrial context.
The company emphasizes that all these renewable sources They contribute to cutting greenhouse gas emissions associated with wine-growing activity, in addition to favoring a more efficient use of resourcesThe underlying idea is to gradually move away from dependence on fossil fuels and move closer, step by step, to more self-sufficient and sustainable production models.
The approach is not isolated, but rather relies on a range of European collaborative R&D projectsAmong them are Rewind (Life), Sofc4greengrid (Misiones-CDTI), Fuelphoria (Horizon Europe) and HarvRESt (Horizon Clima RIA), which bring together universities, technology centers and companies from different European countries.
In the photovoltaic sector, González Byass has already established itself as reference in own solar generationwith more than 2,2 GWh per year for almost a decadeThis prior experience has facilitated the leap to more complex solutions such as agrivoltaics and the integration of solar energy with agricultural electric vehicles.
Fuelphoria and fourth-generation biogas with a negative carbon footprint
One of the most unique projects the company is involved in is Fuelphoria, a European consortium funded by Horizon EuropeThe goal is to capture the CO₂ generated during wine fermentation and combine it with green hydrogen to obtain a fourth generation gas or recycled carbon fuel (RCF)designed to have a zero or even negative carbon footprint.
In the case of González Byass, the carbon dioxide comes from the vineyards themselves and is released during fermentation. a high level of purityThrough methanation reactions under controlled stoichiometric conditions, this CO₂ is transformed into a gaseous fuel which, at the European level, It is categorized as carbon footprint negative energy when it is properly integrated into the production cycle.
This advanced biogas is designed for to replace liquefied natural gas in routine warehouse thermal operationssuch as the generation of hot water or the production of steam. In this way, a cycle is closed in which a portion of the unavoidable emissions from the winemaking process are reused as an energy resource.
Within Fuelphoria, Viñas del Vero acts as end user and industrial demonstratortesting the technology in a real winery environment. The consortium brings together research institutes from Greece, Italy, Czech Republic, Serbia, Cyprus, and Libya, along with Spanish partners such as CIRCE Foundation, Rovira i Virgili University and the CSIC, which are responsible for aspects such as reactor design, methanation optimization, and scalability analysis.
It is worth remembering that Viñas del Vero already took a significant step in 2014, when it became the first Spanish winery to produce green hydrogen Thanks to the European Life Rewind project, that experience has served as a basis for moving now towards renewable synthetic fuels, relying on green hydrogen as an energy carrier.
Agrivoltaism in Vineyards of the Tagus River: energy and vineyard on the same land
Another key element of the group's energy strategy is the agrivoltaisma solution that integrates agricultural production and solar photovoltaics on the same land area. González Byass is promoting this approach through two complementary initiatives: the Winesolar private project, in collaboration with Iberdrolaand the European project HarvRESt, funded within Horizon Climate RIA.
En Vineyards of the Tagus River, in ToledoA photovoltaic system mounted on a single axis has been installed, allowing provide partial and intelligent shade to the vinesThe panels are oriented in such a way as to balance solar energy capture to generate electricity with the protection of the vines from episodes of extreme heat.
This approach allows generate renewable energy for own usewhile the vines develop under more favorable microclimatic conditions. Among the desired effects are: more moderate temperatures in the growing area and a reduction in irrigation needs, an aspect that is especially relevant in areas with increasing water stress.
Within the HarvRESt framework, the Spanish part of the project is led by CIRCE together with the University of Vic (BETA group) and the company SoriguéThey are joined by international partners from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Cyprus, who are seeking to adapt agrivoltaics to different European climates and agricultural models.
In addition to electricity generation, the project includes the integration of an electric tractor into viticulture workwith Viñas del Vero as a demonstrator. This combination of electric machinery and solar energy aims to further reduce the use of fossil fuels in daily fieldwork.
Solid oxide fuel cells to harness green hydrogen
The third pillar of the new energy additions is the use of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)A technology designed to efficiently transform green hydrogen into electricity and heat. González Byass, through Viñas del Vero, is participating in the Sofc4greengrid project, within the CDTI Missions call and co-financed with European Next Generation funds through the PRTR program.
The major challenge this initiative addresses is how to make the use of renewable hydrogen viable in industrial settingsBeyond specific pilot projects, SOFC fuel cells allow the conversion of hydrogen produced by electrolysis into electricity, while simultaneously generating Hot water and steam usable in the winery's production processes.
A [unit/system/system] has already been installed at the Viñas del Vero facilities. solid oxide pile that functions as a technology demonstratorThe system takes green hydrogen from its own production and transforms it into electricity for the winery, while the waste heat is used to cover part of the thermal demand.
Although this technology is still in a phase prior to its mass commercial deploymentThe project is considered an important step towards models of Energy independence and more flexible hydrogen managementThe idea is that, in the medium term, facilities such as wineries can use their own hydrogen to generate the energy they need during peak demand.
Sofc4greengrid is led by the company Greengrouping and includes the participation of leading centers such as CENER, the Complutense University of Madrid, the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon (INMA) and the CEU University, which cover everything from materials development to networked systems integration.
With the joint deployment of RCF biogas, agrivoltaics and solid oxide fuel cellsCombined with existing renewable technologies, González Byass is creating an energy mosaic that goes far beyond the installation of conventional solar panels. The group is exploring avenues ranging from the valorization of fermentative CO₂ and green hydrogen to the optimization of the vineyard as a space for agricultural and energy production—an approach that aligns with the priorities of the ecological transition in Spain and in the European Union.
