Metalplan was one of the protagonists in the implementation of the world's first micro biogas refinery (for upgrading to biomethane), inaugurated in April 2023. Our experts designed and built, according to Air Liquide's specifications, a milestone of sustainability and energy efficiency in the vast territory of Brazil.

The innovation provided energy self-sufficiency to a pig farming estate in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, in the Midwest region of Brazil. The fuel used in tractors, trucks, machinery, and electricity generation comes from biogas, a renewable energy source generated by the decomposition of organic matter such as agricultural waste, food waste, and sewage.

But how does the Integrated Compression & Purification/Upgrading of Biogas to Biomethane Station work?

The biogas provided by the biodigester is pre-treated, removing moisture and H₂S, and compressed to pressures of up to 20 bar. Subsequently, it can be used for electricity generation or purified/upgraded to biomethane, with the separation of carbon dioxide and methane, the main components of biogas.

The resulting biomethane from this process, compressed to pressures of up to 300 bar, is transported by a tanker truck for supply to the industry or stored in cylinders for refueling vehicles and agricultural implements. Also known as renewable natural gas (RNG), biomethane is a clean fuel that can be integrated into existing natural gas infrastructure.

The project was completed in 42 months. The launch was attended by major media outlets such as Globo Rural and Forbes. The audience present was amazed by the real-time transformation of farm waste into biomethane fuel used in the brand-new T6 Methane Power tractor from New Holland.