Advanced Biomethane

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Ever since the 1980s, Caviro Extra has been producing biogas, a gaseous fuel obtained from the fermentation in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic digestion) of residual materials from the food processing industry. The process is carried out at a controlled temperature by active microorganisms that convert the raw material into biogas, most of which consists of methane, and the remainder of CO2 and other minor components.

In 2019, Italy's first agro-industrial biogas plant, the largest of its kind in the country, was inaugurated. The new plant makes it possible to separate carbon dioxide and obtain a very pure biomethane, certified as a sustainable energy source, with a production potential of 12,000,000 Nm3, which is fed into the SNAM national grid.

To complete the circle, in 2020 the CO2 recovery and purification plant, derived from the methane production process, came into operation.

BENEFITS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

The use of advanced biomethane translates into fossil fuel savings.
The annual green energy production of Caviro Extra avoids the emission of 101,000 tons of CO2 of fossil origin. This result is obtained by considering all the energy sources produced: biomethane, bioethanol, electricity and thermal energy.

The production of advanced biomethane has an excellent yield: an average of 45 Nm3 of biogas is obtained for every tonne of wastewater processed.
Calculating a percentage of 65% of biomethane in the biogas produced, the processing of a single lorry of wastewater is sufficient to support the average annual consumption of a passenger car*, delivering 25 tonnes of raw material to the digestion plants.

*Source: Quattroruote magazine:
1400 cc small car: travels 17 km on 1 m3 of natural gas
Average km travelled: 11,200 km per annum

THE ADVANCED BIOMETHANE PRODUCTION PLANT