LIFE SMART AgroMobility project will produce biomethane to fuel agricultural vehicles
The LIFE SMART AgroMobility project will work and research for the next three years in the production of biomethane from the processing of agricultural waste to later be used as fuel for agricultural vehicles and for biofertilizers. Its main objective is to demonstrate the viability of a new model for the waste management of livestock origin, through treatment and its subsequent use, taking into account technical-economic and environmental aspects.
The project is planned to take place in a pig farm managed by the COPISO Cooperative, one of the partners in the project, which is located in Soria, in north-central Spain. The prototype will have microalgae biotechnology for the biomethane production and upgrading process and will have the capacity to supply fuel to two light vehicles. Additionally, and promoting processes based on circular economy, biofertilizer will be obtained from the biotechnological process.
As a result of the recovery of the livestock residues in the form of biomethane, a double mitigation of emissions is obtained, since it would also imply a reduction in the demand for fossil fuels within the agricultural sector.
LIFE SMART AgroMobility, which will run until 2023, has a total budget of 2.29 million euros, which is 55% co-financed by the LIFE Program of the European Commission.
The LIFE Program is the only financial instrument in the European Union exclusively dedicated to the environment. Its overall objective for the period 2014-2020 is to contribute to sustainable development and to the achievement of the objectives and targets of the 2020 Europe Strategy and of the relevant EU strategies and plans on the environment and climate. The LIFE SMART AgroMobility project is part of the priority area “Mitigation of Climate Change” of the Climate Action Subprogram.
LIFE SMART AgroMobility’s consortium includes: the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), which leads the project, COPISO SORIA, the Regional Energy Agency of Castilla y León (EREN), Everis Ingeniería (EXELERIA), the General Foundation from the University of Valladolid (FUNGE), the Iberian Association of Natural and Renewable Gas for Mobility (Gasnam), Natural & bio Gas Vehicle Association (NGVA Europe) and the University of Valladolid (UVa).
