Biogas upgrading plant and the injection of biomethane into the grid
In 2022, it was designed, built and installed the upgrading and injection plant in Cella Dati (Cremona) for the EGEA Group and Santini Agricoltura Rinnovabile. In operation since March, the system injects biomethane produced from livestock manure and plant biomass cultivated in the adjacent area into the distribution network.
The volume produced exceeds 4 million cubic metres per year, the equivalent of the annual needs of almost 4,000 cars. In addition to biofuel, the plant makes it possible to obtain digestate from the fermentation residue, an important fertiliser that can be used instead of synthetic fertilisers.
| Location | Cella Dati (CR) |
| Industrial partner | EGEA Group |
| Agricultural partner | Santini Agricoltura Rinnovabile |
| Plant installation | Pietro Fiorentini SPA |
| Production capability | 4,000,000 m³/year |
The Biomethane Cella Dati project stems from the desire of Egea Group (industrial partner) and Santini Agricoltura Rinnovabile (agricultural partner) to give value to the biogas derived from agricultural by-products of local farms, by transforming it into biomethane to be injected into the natural gas distribution grid.
ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
In Italy, more than 75 billion m³ of gas is consumed per year. The plant built by Pietro Fiorentini produces 4,000,000 m³ of gas per year, using agricultural by-products recovered directly by local companies.
The by-product of biomethane production, which is called digestate, can be used as fertiliser instead of chemical fertilisers.
Numerous similar projects have already been commissioned and will be implemented over the next few years.
FOCUS ON COMPANIES
A multi-service group based in Alba, EGEA Group has always been attentive to local needs and operates with a deliberately glocal model.
The Santini family has been present in the area for more than 200 years and manages 500 hectares in the province of Cremona with more than 4,000 cattle and another 300 hectares divided between Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany.
Download the Case Study of Cella Dati project.
