2023-05-26 12:10:37
cepsa and Agro-food Cooperatives of Spainan organization that brings together more than 3,600 agricultural cooperatives and more than a million members, farmers and ranchers, will collaborate in the promotion of the production of second generation biofuels (2G) from waste generated by the Spanish agricultural and livestock sectors.
Cepsa, through its Research Center, will analyze whether the residual biomass generated by different industries, such as olive, olive, wine or livestock, can be transformed into raw material to produce second generation biofuels in its industrial centers. For its part, Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España will coordinate contact between the company and the different cooperatives that make up the association.
2G biofuels, whose raw material does not compete with food, promote the circular economy, since for its production waste is reused that would otherwise end up in landfills. Likewise, their use can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional fuels, which makes them a key element to decarbonise sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy road, maritime or air transport. .
Javier Antúnez, Cepsa’s Director of Biofuels, highlighted: “At Cepsa, we are convinced that to advance in the energy transition we must do it collaboratively and establishing synergies throughout the entire value chain. For this reason, we have reached this agreement with Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de España, which represents more than a million farmers and ranchers in the country, with the aim of identifying new sources of circular raw materials for the production of second-generation biofuels, while at the same time we generate new alliances that attract benefits and economic development to rural areas”.
The general director of Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España, Gabriel Trenzado, highlighted “we have promoted the creation of new value chains for agricultural raw materials, from bioenergy to new biomaterials for decarbonization through participation in various projects within the Horizon 2020 program, as is the case of COOPID. Cooperatives are experts in production and logistics in rural areas, from crops to the management of by-products and waste, but they need strong alliances with the leaders of the energy sector to develop the full potential of the bioeconomy. This promising agreement with Cepsa will reach its full potential when it materializes in concrete projects with our cooperative companies”, he added.
The agreement reached also contemplates the promotion of alliances with cooperatives that are interested in the production of biomass from cover crops. Cepsa, through its study with the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), will be able to identify the most suitable areas and crops for planting. These crops, which do not compete with feedinggenerate raw material to produce second generation biofuels, while improving soil quality and increasing rainwater retention capacity.
In this way, Cepsa continues working to diversify its sources of raw material supply for the manufacture of this type of biofuels, one of the main challenges for the industry, while promoting greater autonomy in Spain in terms of supply and independence. energetic. The company’s goal is lead the manufacture of biofuels by 2030 2G in Spain and Portugal.
Promotion of rural development
Agri-food cooperatives provide direct employment to 123,000 people in Spain, most of them in rural areas, which makes them an important economic and social engine in the less populated areas of our country, known as “emptied Spain”. The possibility of taking advantage of the residual biomass will also contribute to the development of cooperatives providing added value to the activity of its farmers and ranchers by allowing them to diversify their sources of income.
Likewise, since 2023, the Common Agrarian Policy (CAP) rewards farmers and ranchers who carry out at least one voluntary sustainable practice, among others, the development of cover crops in woody crops, such as olive groves or fruit tree plantations.
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