genia bioenergy
Use of renewable and indigenous energy sources.
Development of a biogas pilot plant to reduce energy dependence in the islands of Macaronesia and West Africa.
genia bioenergy
Development of a biogas pilot plant to reduce energy dependence in the islands of Macaronesia and West Africa.
The pilot plant in Mauritania, which will have a twin in the Canary Islands, is intended for research in energy self-sufficiency and waste management. Biogas plants have the capacity to convert organic waste into sustainable gas, compost and organic fertilizers.
The goal is to find a solution to the common problems of high energy dependence and limitations in traditional waste management systems such as disposal to landfills, so typical of the Macaronesian archipelagos including the Canary Islands.
The plant is developed within the framework of the ENERMAC project, aimed at fostering renewable energy and energy efficiency to drive sustainable development of the Macaronesian islands (the Portuguese archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira and Salvajes plus Cape Verde and the Canary Islands) and West Africa.
There is a line of activity in the ENERMAC project for waste valorisation for generation of energy that involves construction of two biogas pilot plants; one in the Canary Islands and this one in Mauritania.These plants will analyse the most suitable processes for methane production based on the composition of the organic waste available in each territory. It will also provide training for technicians in the technology to foster development of biogas projects in the country concerned.
The Macaronesian archipelagos – including the Canary Islands – face common issues such as high energy dependence and the limitations of traditional waste-management systems such as disposal in landfills. Under these circumstances, anaerobic digestion (biogas production) of organic waste constitutes a potential solution for energy independence (along with other renewable sources like wind or solar power). It can produce a significant amount of renewable methane gas (the only energy from renewable sources that can be stored and used for heat, electricity or mobility regardless of the solar and wind conditions at any one time). Moreover, it provides a solution for the ecological management of urban, agricultural, livestock and industrial organic waste.
The data obtained from these pilot plants in Mauritania and the Canary Islands will help determine the most efficient processes for obtaining gas from the most common organic waste in each territory, providing added value as renewable gas, compost and organic fertilizers andcontributing to energy-related and environmental sustainability.
The biogas plant,which will be installed and operational in April, produces not only gas with valorisation potential for energy generation,but also converts waste into compost and organic fertilizers. These products have monetary value and help to introduce the circular economy concept into waste management, something particularly important in these regions.
Information on the project:
The Canary Islands Technological Institute, Genia Global Energy and the Cobra Group are building a pilot biogas plant for Mauritania.
The Canary Islands Technological Institute, Genia Global Energy and the Cobra Group are building a pilot biogas plant for Mauritania.
Biogas pilot plants for a more rational use of renewable energy in Macaronesia (Mauritania)
