The Can Mata landfill site is one of the largest in Spain.
The Ferrovial Servicios group, a leading global service operator, has selected Waga Energy to produce biomethane at the Can Mata landfill, one of Spain’s largest landfill, near Barcelona.
The WAGABOX® unit at the Can Mata site will be commissioned in 2022. It will treat up to 2,200 m3/h (1,365 scfm) of landfill gas and inject 70 GWh (250,000 mmBtu/262,680 GJ) of biomethane per year into the gas network of the Spanish operator Nedgia, which is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 14,000 Spanish households or a fleet of 200 lorries. The project will avoid the emission of 17,000 tonnes of CO2 per year by substituting renewable gas for natural gas.
One of the first PPAs in Europe for green gas
This is the first ever landfill gas injection project to be financed by a long-term power purchase agreement in Europe. This method of financing is common for renewable electricity projects, but rarely used for green gas projects, generally unable to provide buyers with a competitive price over the long term.
This first-ever “Biomethane Purchase Agreement” has been made possible thanks to the proven efficiency of the WAGABOX® technology, combined to Waga Energy’s unique expertise in the management of landfill biogas injection projects.
The two partners have adopted a business model that guarantees high performance throughout the project cycle. Waga Energy will purchase part of the landfill gas from the Can Mata site from Ferrovial Servicios, finance the construction and operation of the WAGABOX® unit, as well as manage relations with the gas network operator and the sale of the biomethane. Waga Energy will invest 7.5 million euros to commission the unit and connect the Can Mata site to the gas grid, located four kilometers away.
The Can Mata landfill site is one of the largest in Spain. It covers 68 hectares in the municipality of Els Hostalets de Pierola, about 40 kilometers from Barcelona. Ferrovial Servicios has operated the site for the last 20 years, treating more than 20 million tons of waste. The waste stored in Can Mata generates nearly 40 million cubic meters of biogas per year. This biogas has so far been used to provide electricity and fuel for a neighboring ceramic factory. The WAGABOX® unit will greatly increase energy yields.
Antonio Aliana, Regional Director of Ferrovial Servicios in Catalonia: “The agreement signed with Waga Energy strengthens Ferrovial’s commitment to sustainable development. This circular economy project will make it possible to produce biomethane, for the benefit of our citizens, thanks to the most advanced technology for the recovery of biogas from waste gas. We hope that this innovative green energy project will be extended to other sites that we operate, as part of our strategy to transform waste into resources”.
Mathieu Lefebvre, CEO and co-founder of Waga Energy: “This significant project with the Ferrovial Servicios group marks the culmination of three years of hard work by both parties. Landfill gas-to-biomethane injection projects are complex from a technological, regulatory, and financial point of view. Our unique expertise in this area, combined to our commitment to the energy transition, have enabled this major renewable gas project in Spain to materialize.“