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Biomethane from municipal organic waste
Published on 05 July 2021
Italy
Piemonte
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
ACEA is a public multi-utility company, providing services in the water, energy and environmental sectors, the reference point at a regional level for the organic waste treatment.
The ACEA Waste Treatment Plant was established in 2003 to initially serve only the Pinerolo area (150˙000 inhabitants).
Currently, the organic waste treatment line is a reference at a regional (Piedmont) level, with a potential capacity of 60˙000 t/year (to be enlarged to 90˙000 t/year), serving roughly 1˙000˙000 inhabitants and it produces both biogas for production of electricity and thermal energy, the excess of which sold to national district using CHP system (until September 2020), and compost for agriculture.
Thanks to the partnership between HYSYTECH and Acea Pinerolese Industriale, a new biomethane plant in Piemonte, which treats up to 1,500 Standard cubic meters per hour of biogas, was recently opened, thus integrating the first plant in Italy producing pipeline biomethane from municipal organic waste.
In fact, starting from September 2020, biomethane is produced with a biogas valorisation process obtained from the anaerobic treatment of organic waste (food waste) and is injected into the natural gas distribution network connected with houses, shops, small industries of the territory and, above all, the fuel stations selling CNG (Compressed Natural Gas - methane for cars).
The ACEA Waste Treatment Plant was established in 2003 to initially serve only the Pinerolo area (150˙000 inhabitants).
Currently, the organic waste treatment line is a reference at a regional (Piedmont) level, with a potential capacity of 60˙000 t/year (to be enlarged to 90˙000 t/year), serving roughly 1˙000˙000 inhabitants and it produces both biogas for production of electricity and thermal energy, the excess of which sold to national district using CHP system (until September 2020), and compost for agriculture.
Thanks to the partnership between HYSYTECH and Acea Pinerolese Industriale, a new biomethane plant in Piemonte, which treats up to 1,500 Standard cubic meters per hour of biogas, was recently opened, thus integrating the first plant in Italy producing pipeline biomethane from municipal organic waste.
In fact, starting from September 2020, biomethane is produced with a biogas valorisation process obtained from the anaerobic treatment of organic waste (food waste) and is injected into the natural gas distribution network connected with houses, shops, small industries of the territory and, above all, the fuel stations selling CNG (Compressed Natural Gas - methane for cars).
Resources needed
2M€ total investment financed by ACEA involving a peak of 15 people.
Evidence of success
Up to 800 Standard cubic meters per hour of biomethane produced by the Plant.
Potential for learning or transfer
Since a lot of EU Countries have planned and put into operation biogas plants, this practice could be inspiring to implement existing plants for the production of biomethane for buildings and sustainable mobility.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Acea Pinerolese
Italy
Piemonte
Contact