Bioethanol from waste facility in Spain opens

Renewable energy business Abengoa has inaugurated its demonstration plant that uses waste-to-biofuels technology.

The plant, located in Babilafuente, Spain has a capacity to treat 25,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste, from which it will obtain up to 1.5 million litres of bioethanol via a fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis treatment.

Manuel Sánchez Ortega, CEO of Abengoa, said during the opening: ‘This plant highlights our commitment to technological research and innovation, which has enabled it to maintain a competitive advantage in its sectors.’

Abengoa claims the production of bioethanol from municipal solid waste is a ‘major breakthrough in the waste management model’ which helps to lower ‘waste going to landfill’ and ‘dependency on fossil fuels while reducing greenhouse gas emissions per kilometre travelled by 70%’.