The project
The LIFE Methamorphosis project is cofounded by the European Commission within the LIFE program, which helps developing and implementing new policies regarding environmental protection and climate change by promoting innovative technologies and offering solutions to policy makers. This project is coordinated by Aqualia and has the participation of companies such as Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), Naturgy, SEAT, the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) and the Catalan Institute for Energy (ICAEN).
This is a technology demonstration project with the same goals as the LIFE Programme, in particular climate change mitigation through the use of renewable energy, and more specifically the production of biomethane from waste treatment plants. This fuel has a lower greenhouse effect gas emission rate compared to other fuels. It is a revolution in urban mobility and the development of the cities of the future. Furthermore, this initiative is in line with the guidelines about circular economy promoted by the European Community.
The project wants to demonstrate the feasibility at an industrial scale of two innovative waste treatment systems.
UMBRELLA
The UMBRELLA prototype will be installed at the municipal waste treatment plant ECOPARC, in Montcada i Reixac, of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. The energy uses to treat water from the organic fraction treatment will be optimized by using innovative anaerobic and atotrophic processes applied in series: the anaerobic membrane reactor (AnMBR) and the autotrophic nitrogen elimination system Anammox ELAN®. Finally, the resulting biogas is treated with the ABAD® cleaning and refining system so that the resulting biomethane can be used in vehicles as it meets the UNE-EN 16723-2:2018 standard.
The UMBRELLA prototype will be installed at the municipal waste treatment plant ECOPARC, in Montcada i Reixac, of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. The energy uses to treat water from the organic fraction treatment will be optimized by using innovative anaerobic and atotrophic processes applied in series: the anaerobic membrane reactor (AnMBR) and the autotrophic nitrogen elimination system Anammox ELAN®. Finally, the resulting biogas is treated with the ABAD® cleaning and refining system so that the resulting biomethane can be used in vehicles as it meets the UNE-EN 16723-2:2018 standard.
METHAGRO
The METHAGRO prototype will be installed in the Porgaporcs facility, owned by Ecobiogas and located 35km from Lleida. Its goal is to mitigate the problems created by the uncontrolled production of pig slurry. It will demonstrate the production of biomethane from biogas with a membrane-based upgrading system. The biogas can be used either directly in vehicles for transportation complying with the standards UNE-EN 16723-2:2018 for vehicular gas and norma UNE-EN 16723-1:2017 for gas networking injection.
The adequacy of the two types of produced biomethane will be tested using SEAT vehicles in over 120.000 km of test runs.
The METHAGRO prototype will be installed in the Porgaporcs facility, owned by Ecobiogas and located 35km from Lleida. Its goal is to mitigate the problems created by the uncontrolled production of pig slurry. It will demonstrate the production of biomethane from biogas with a membrane-based upgrading system. The biogas can be used either directly in vehicles for transportation complying with the standards UNE-EN 16723-2:2018 for vehicular gas and norma UNE-EN 16723-1:2017 for gas networking injection.
The adequacy of the two types of produced biomethane will be tested using SEAT vehicles in over 120.000 km of test runs.
