Olive grove waste management in the Baena region has reached a point of no return that requires urgent solutions. Over the last few decades, the sector has gone from dumping olive mill wastewater into rivers to accumulating it in thousands of ponds, but the change in oil extraction systems has generated a olive pomace with such high humidity Traditional drying methods are no longer sufficient. This situation has highlighted the need to evolve towards more modern and sustainable systems that allow for the disposal of thousands of tons of byproducts without jeopardizing the activity of local olive oil mills.
In this context, the proposal from OleÃcola El Tejar, in partnership with Vorn Bioenergy and Greenar, is presented as a lifeline to avoid what many experts are already calling an imminent industrial collapse. The initiative seeks to transform these byproducts into clean energy, specifically biomethane, through a process that It promises to be a benchmark for the circular economy. throughout Andalusia. However, the project has not been without controversy, sparking an intense debate between the technical needs of the farmers and the environmental concerns of the local residents.
A technical solution to prevent the closure of cooperatives
The president of OleÃcola El Tejar has been very clear in explaining that the current drying plants are reaching their operational limit. If new infrastructure is not implemented, the excess water in the byproducts will prevent the olive mills from continuing to receive olives, which would force the harvest to be left in the field in the coming seasons. The future biogas plant is not envisioned as a business whim, but as an essential tool to prevent Baena's economic engine from stalling due to the accumulation of waste that can no longer be managed as before.
The consortium promoting the project insists that 85% of the raw materials arriving at the facility will be exclusively olive mill wastewater and pomace from the olive sector itself. In this way, they intend to categorically deny that it is a landfill of urban waste. The technology that is intended to be implemented is already used successfully in countries like Germany, where thousands of similar plants coexist with urban centers without generating health problems or bad smells, thanks to the fact that the process is carried out in a completely airtight manner.
State-of-the-art technology and connection to the gas pipeline network
The project involves a significant investment not only in gas processing but also in its distribution. The company Nedgia AndalucÃa has already applied for a declaration of public utility to construct a pipeline just over one kilometer long. It will connect the plant to the existing gas pipeline.This project, budgeted at around 437.000 euros, will allow biomethane to be injected directly into the network, converting a problematic waste product into a fuel that meets the same quality standards as conventional natural gas.
The infrastructure will feature state-of-the-art control systems to monitor gas quality in real time. Using chromatographs and analyzers, it is ensured that only biomethane meeting strict requirements is injected. ensuring the security of the entire systemFurthermore, the connection works are expected to take only three weeks, minimizing disruption to the land and ensuring the complete restoration of the vegetation after the installation of the high-pressure steel pipes.
Scientific support and environmental benefits
The University of Córdoba has become a key ally in validating the project's viability. Researchers from the Biofuels Group argue that transitioning from traditional combustion to anaerobic digestion is to take a giant technological leapIt is not just about producing energy, but also about recovering water suitable for irrigation and generating digestates, which are new generation biofertilizers that will return to the fields of the olive growers themselves, thus closing the organic matter cycle efficiently.
To reassure the residents of Baena, the technicians explained that the plant will use ultrasound and nanobubble systems to neutralize any potential odor emissions. Furthermore, the impact on road traffic will be minimal compared to a conventional olive oil mill; while these can receive hundreds of trucks daily during peak season, the biogas plant It will barely generate between eight and ten displacements per day. It's a way to professionalize the management of by-products without overloading local roads.
The opposition front and the municipal allegations
Despite the advantages outlined, the project faces a wall of social and institutional rejection. The Baena City Council, led by its mayor, has filed technical and legal objections against the environmental permit. The main concern lies in the protection of archaeological heritage and landscapeIn addition to the fear among some residents that a facility of this scale could negatively impact tourism or quality of life, groups like Ecologists in Action have also been very active, submitting dozens of documents to halt what they consider a mega-plant with environmental risks.
This controversy has led the city council to propose a Special Renewable Energy Regulation Plan to bring order to these types of installations. Although the final decision rests with the Andalusian Regional Government, the volume of objections from residents reflects a climate of distrust that the promoters are trying to dispel with information sessions and technical transparency. The Iponubensis association has also raised the alarm about possible damage to historical sites, which adds another layer of complexity to the administrative processing of the plant in the Amarguilla area.
The crossroads at which Baena finds itself highlights the difficulty of balancing industrial progress and environmental sustainability in territories with a strong agricultural heritage. The olive oil sector insists there is no plan B for managing byproducts in a viable long-term way, while some residents demand absolute guarantees that their environment will not be altered. The resolution of this conflict will set the course for the Energy transition in the heart of Andalusiawhere the valorization of olive grove remains seems to be the only way to ensure that olive oil continues to be the driving force of the region without dying of success due to its own waste.