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51 min ago 3 min read
Spain’s ambition to become one of Europe’s leading biomethane producers has gained fresh impetus after Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) approved investment in what is expected to become the country’s largest biogas plant.
Through its Advanced Bioenergy Fund I (ABF I), the infrastructure investor has reached final investment decision (FID) on the Cobirgy project in La Sentiu de Sió, Lérida, Catalonia.
Once operational, the facility is expected to produce more than 230 GWh of biomethane annually, making it the highest-output biomethane plant in Spain to date.
The project represents ABF I’s fifth investment and its first in Spain, as the €727m ($828m) fund continues to expand its European bioenergy portfolio.
Cobirgy will process up to 500,000 tonnes of agricultural and industrial organic waste each year, converting it into renewable biomethane while producing approximately 150,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser and soil improver annually.
More than 350 local farmers have already signed up to supply feedstock, with over 80% of the slurry expected to come from farms within a 15km radius of the site.
The project has been designated a strategic business project by the government of Catalonia and has also secured a capital grant from the regional government.
Thomas Dalsgaard, Partner at CIP and Lead Partner for ABF, said the investment marked an important milestone for the fund.
“It is an important step for the fund and will make a significant contribution to Spain’s energy security and decarbonisation, create local jobs and drive investments across the agricultural sector and surrounding rural communities,” he said.
The investment adds to a growing wave of biomethane developments across Spain, as developers seek to capitalise on the country’s abundant agricultural resources and increasing demand for renewable gas.
Spain is targeting a minimum annual biomethane production of 10.4 TWh by 2030, enough to meet around 10% of national gas demand, while longer-term ambitions aim to replace as much as 30% of fossil gas consumption with biogas and biomethane by 2050.
Several major projects have been announced in recent months.
Naturgy and ID Energy Group are planning to develop around with a combined production capacity of 1,600 GWh per year, while energy company Moeve has committed €600m ($684m) towards building 30 biomethane facilities across Spain.
Meanwhile, renewable natural gas producer CycleØ recently opened and plans to invest €200m ($228m) in up to 30 additional projects capable of producing a combined 800 GWh annually.
Beyond production, Spain is also expanding biomethane use in transport. Earlier this year, HAM Group of bioLNG and bioCNG across its refuelling network, enabling renewable gas to be supplied throughout its service station network without requiring vehicle modifications.
