IRTA’s experimental biogas plants

For self-consumption on small or medium-sized farms

As part of the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, one of our strategic scientific objectives is to boost the bioeconomy to reduce the environmental impact of the agri-food sector.

In this context, we are building two biogas plants.

One already built and operating, at the Mas Bové farm (Constantí, Tarragona), which is home to pigs and poultry.

Another at the Monells cattle farm (Girona), home to dairy cows. More news on this coming soon.

This infographic summarises how they will work:

So, at both farms:

We will turn manure into biogas

Through a digestion process carried out by anaerobic microorganisms: bacteria and archaea that work without oxygen inside a tank.

The technologies we will use at each farm will be different.

We will use the biogas

• For heating (in the farrowing unit for sows at Mas Bové).

• And to heat washing water (to disinfect the milking parlour for the cows at Monells).

We will make use of the remaining organic matter

It is called digestate, and we will separate it into two fractions:

• The solid part will be turned into quality organic fertilisers (compost) thanks to the work of aerobic bacteria and fungi.
  
  
• And the liquid part will become water for irrigation (on the fields at Monells) and for cleaning (at the Mas Bové farms).

All of this will allow us to:

• Make our farms more self-sufficient and sustainable.

• Collaborate with companies or projects wishing to test new technologies.

• And show the sector how these biogas plants work and their results.

Learn about IRTA’s strategic scientific objective related to the bioeconomy: