BIOGASMEX – Biogas from organic waste and biomass in Mexico

Each year, the federal state of Querétaro in Mexico burns more than 135,000 tons of liquid manure from animal husbandry as well as large amounts of fat and organic waste from meat processing. Up until now these have had no use and create a large amount of greenhouse gases. On the other hand, the companies of the food and animal feed industry have a high heat demand, which is currently met by petroleum gas combustion.

Alpakas vor Biogasanlage

© uschi dreiucker / pixelio.de

The aim of the project is to introduce a new, especially effective and reliable version of the previously unused biogas technology in Mexico and to create the conditions for a reference unit on the premises of the animal feed producer La Perla. The Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg in Brandenburg, the Centre for Research and Technologic Development in Electrochemistry (CIDETEQ) and Proveedora La Perla S.A. de C.V. are collaborating for this purpose.

The company La Perla is determined to cover most of its heat demand using biogas and to set up a large central biogas unit for this purpose. German companies could benefit from this because there is currently no experienced provider in Mexico. The annual financial savings compared to petroleum gas could add up to more than USD 1 million. At the same time, a significant reduction in diffuse methane emissions is achieved. The process residues will be utilised by agriculture as a fertiliser, thereby reducing the use of artificial fertilisers. Performance of the potential analysis at CIDETEQ contributed to significant capacity creation and experience gain, making it the central biogas competence centre in Mexico.

Added value of the German-Mexican cooperation

It was only possible to prepare for and implement the project thanks to the collaboration between the Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg in Brandenburg and the CIDETEQ, which has existed since 2007. In particular, CIDETEQ contributed its regional experience and extensive business contacts and contacts to state institutions. The economic success of its predecessor projects solidified this cooperation and enabled the participants in Mexico to gain a high reputation.

Exchange and analysis

The first workshop on the potential for biomass producers and the industry in Querétaro already took place in the first months of the project term.
Its purpose was to explain the project and the motivation and to serve as a kick-off meeting. The workshop was attended not only by representatives from agriculture and the project participants, but also especially by the national research institution CONACYT, the Environment Ministry and the Agricultural Ministry of the federal state of Querétaro as well as by several guests from other regions. Since March 2015, the Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg in Brandenburg together with CIDETEQ has carried out an analysis of the usable waste and biomass potential in the Querétaro region. This will soon be completed. Currently, preparations are under way for the logistical system analysis and a first economic estimate.

Contact

DLR Project Management Agency
European and International Cooperation
Inge.LamberzdeBayas@dlr.de
Tel.: +49 228 3821 1436

Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg
in Brandenburg
Dr.-Ing. Violeta Bravo Sepúlveda
Tel.: +49 355 69-3683