Ence has launched preparations for a new biomethane and biofertilizers plant in Xunqueira de AmbÃa (Ourense). The project contemplates an approximate investment of 25 millones de euros and is part of the company's new line of business focused on waste recovery and circular economy in rural areas.
The initiative has taken a relevant administrative step: the Official Journal of Galicia has published the public information of the request for integrated environmental authorization and the Environment Effect investigation, opening the period for comments. The proposal plans to produce primarily organic fertilizers and, to a lesser extent, renewable gas.
Location, investment and scope of the project
The project promoter is Biofertilizers and Biomethane Sertogal Xunqueira, a company within the orbit of Ence through its subsidiary Ence Biogas, and will feature Ourense engineering Sertogal for promotion and construction. The headquarters are located in the area of Santiago de Compostela, reinforcing the local character of the initiative.
This is the Ence's first biogas initiative in Galicia, part of an expanding national platform. The company reports that it has 17 projects in the environmental pipeline and around 20 in development with feasibility studies already underway, in addition to recent transactions in the sector, such as the acquisition of a biomethane plant in Tarragona. The overall plan includes scaling up production in this division in the medium term.
Treatment capacity and products
The planned facility will be able to add value to some 140.000 annual tons of biomass from agricultural, livestock and agri-food sources. The supply will focus on local raw materials: In Xunqueira de AmbÃa, an estimated 19.000 t/year of livestock by-products are produced and, within a 20 km radius, the potential volume exceeds 420.000 t/year, which facilitates short logistics.
The heart of the process will be a controlled anaerobic digestion which will generate biogas. After a purification system (upgrade), the gas will reach the quality of biomethane injectable into the networkThis creates a renewable energy product aligned with decarbonization goals.
The digested material will be subjected to a solid/liquid separationThe solid fraction will be directed to the production of compost, while the liquid fraction and the wastewater streams will pass through Inverse osmosisThe resulting effluent will be partly recirculated to the process, and the rest will be used as liquid fertilizer or irrigation water. Sanitary water will be channeled to a watertight pit with an authorized manager.
As a result, the plant aims to obtain around 25.000 annual tons of solid biofertilizer, meeting European quality standards. According to the documentation, the planned distribution will be 90% organic fertilizer and 10% renewable gas. This type of fertilizer, with a high organic matter content, helps improve soil structure, strengthens water retention, and reduces the risk of nitrate contamination in aquifers.
Employment and local value chain
During construction it is planned to create up to 150 jobs, while in operation the estimated figure is around 80 jobs between direct and indirect. These are significant figures for a medium-sized municipality seeking to boost the area's economy.
The company has expressed its intention to give priority to companies in the area in auxiliary contracts, reinforcing the impact on the local economic fabric. In addition, logistics will be planned to minimize inconvenience, avoiding the transit of trucks through urban centers whenever possible.
Industrial design and impact control
The technical model has been designed for a odor-free operation. Raw materials will be stored in closed warehouses, liquid substrates will remain in sealed tanks and the facilities will incorporate advanced systems of air filtration to mitigate diffuse emissions.
The project is also presented as a way to improve the management of manure and slurry, contributing to the reduction of the nitrogen load in the environment and to the denitrification of aquifers. This approach, linked to valorization, seeks to convert an environmental problem into useful resources for agriculture.
According to the documentation submitted to public information, the treatment will focus on non-hazardous waste and animal by-products not intended for human consumption, with environmental control and monitoring procedures. The planning also includes routes and schedules that help minimize the effects about the daily lives of the neighbors.
With these elements, Xunqueira de AmbÃa hopes to position itself on the map of the circular economy in Galicia through a plant that combines waste recovery, production of organic fertilizers and biomethane for the network, aligning with Ence's strategy of expanding this technological platform nationwide.
