Page 162 - CW E-Magazine (31-10-2023)

News from Abroad

DECARBONISATION

Cepsa announces plans for up to 15 new biomethane

plants in Spain

Spanish energy and chemicals characteristics as natural gas, but al-
group, Cepsa, has begun to search for lows up to 100% reduction of CO
2
and develop projects for the construc- emissions. This similarity means that it
tion and operation of biomethane plants can also be stored or injected directly
from agricultural and livestock waste to into existing gas transmission network,
decarbonise its industrial activity, re- without the need for developing new
placing the use of natural gas with this infrastructure. In addition to being used
renewable gas. as a substitute for natural gas in indus-
trial use, this renewable gas can also be
By 2030, the company aims to man- they will use renewable electricity and used to produce green hydrogen and as
age a project portfolio of 4 TWh per the heat generated by the biogas itself. an alternative for sustainable mobility.
year, which will enable it to significan-
tly reduce CO emissions from its pow- Commenting on the move, Mr. Javier This second-generation (2G) bio-
2
er plants and chemical plants, as well Antúnez, Cepsa’s Biofuels Manager, fuel is obtained from biogas, which,
as providing a complementary vector to noted, “We continue to focus on sec- in turn, is produced through a natu-
produce green hydrogen and employ- ond-generation biofuels by developing ral decomposition process (anaerobic
ment in sustainable mobility. biomethane plants. This is a further digestion) of biodegradable organic agri-
step in Cepsa’s strategy to decarbonise cultural, livestock, and industrial waste.
As part of this objective, the com- its operations and continue driving the Subsequently, after purification through
pany has agreed to a partnership with energy transition. By producing biome- a technological process called upgrad-
Kira Ventures, a Spanish company in thane, we will be able to replace natu- ing, it is converted into biomethane.
renewable energy asset promotion and ral gas in industrial processes and thus
management, for the start-up of up to advance our goal of reducing emissions Biomethane plants are a sustainable
15 biomethane plants in Spain during from our activity by 55%, as well as alternative to waste treatment, as they
this decade. Both companies are now contribute to the production of green allow waste to be reused to produce re-
working on the development of the first hydrogen and offer a new sustainable newable energy and produce by-products
five, which will be located in Castilla- mobility alternative.” such as compost or sustainable fertili-
La Mancha and Castilla y León, and sers that can be used on local farmland.
are expected to be operational between Cepsa plans to cut its CO emis- In addition, biomethane production
2
2025 and 2026. These plants will use sions by 55% by 2030 (Scope 1 and 2), plants contribute to the sustainable eco-
agricultural and livestock waste from compared to 2019, and aims to be car- nomic development of the rural world
the areas where they are installed, such bon-neutral by 2050, which will require and the depopulated regions of Spain,
as manure and slurry, among others, the use of biomethane in its industrial boosting two key sectors for the Spanish
and will be 100% sustainable, since processes. Biomethane has the same economy: agriculture and livestock.

COLLABORATION

Evonik and Shandong Vland Biotech announce

animal nutrition JV in China
Evonik’s China subsidiary and Evonik will be the majority share- will begin operations next year. It will
Shandong Vland Biotech have agreed holder in this joint venture with 55% combine the specific strengths of both
to build a joint venture (JV) to expand of the shares. The JV, Evonik Vland partners, including Vland’s market
their presence in gut health solutions Biotech (Shandong) Co. Ltd. will have access, regulatory capabilities in China,
products for farm animals globally. its headquarters in Binzhou, China, and as well as its fast innovation cycles.

162 Chemical Weekly October 31, 2023

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