Seat and Aqualia to create biofuel from waste water

Seat and water management company Aqualia have partnered to develop a renewable biofuel from waste water to be used in compressed natural gas vehicles.

Pilot tests are being carried out in the waste water treatment plant located in Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz). The aim of the innovative SMART Green Gas project is to create a low-emission fuel that is 100 per cent Spanish origin.

As part of their collaboration, SEAT has provided Aqualia with two SEAT Leon TGI vehicles to test the biomethane obtained from the waste water.

Aqualia general director Félix Parra said: “Developing the Smart Green Gas project with a medium sized waste water treatment plant could potentially lead to the daily production of a million litres of biofuel, enough to power more than 300 vehicles. This would enable cities to fuel their network of urban buses, bin lorries, police cars or ambulances, among others.”

SMART Green Gas aims to produce highly efficient systems for producing biogas and converting it into biomethane, which are generated from sewage in cities’ waste water treatment plants. SMART Green Gas aims to obtain locally produced, renewable fuel that can be used in the automotive sector or injected into the natural gas distribution network.

Supported by the Centre for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI), SMART Green Gas is being developed with the participation of five partners, including Gas Natural Fenosa and Naturgas EDP, as well as public research organisations such as the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA) and the universities of Girona, Valladolid and Santiago de Compostela. SEAT is participating in conjunction with Aqualia.

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