Innovation in Energy Transition and Renewables
Last October during the European Biogas Conference 2024, we celebrated the pioneers who are driving innovation in the energy transition and renewables. The EBA Awards 2024 recognised individuals and organisations that are making remarkable contributions to the biogas sector. Today, we have the privilege of speaking with some of them.
Consorzio Italiano Biogas (CIB) has been successful in building compelling narratives around the advantages of agricultural biogas. What strategies have you found most impactful in shaping a compelling narrative that resonates with both agricultural stakeholders and the general public, and how do you tailor these stories to different audiences?
Laura Simionato (Head of Communications and Marketing, CIB): Our narrative is built by the expertise, experience, sensitivity, and professionalism of everyone in our Consortium. From the communication team and agronomic experts to institutional representatives, technology providers, and especially our farmers, each contributes to advancing the sector and promoting the Biogasdoneright® model. Our farmers play a pivotal role, adding strength and authenticity to our communication. Their stories go beyond narrative; they become tangible through farm visits and events, persuading audiences through real, hands-on experiences. This approach bridges gaps in understanding, engaging both experts seeking in-depth knowledge and newcomers who benefit from experiential learning. The “Farming Days”, for example, is a format where we show sustainable practices, biogas and biomethane production, and their role in the ecological transition.
The Biogasdoneright® model and the “Farming for Future” project have been pivotal in promoting sustainable agriculture. How do these initiatives specifically benefit farmers? Can you share any success stories that highlight their impact?
Laura Simionato (Head of Communications and Marketing): Our farmers understand the environmental and economic benefits of adopting the Farming for Future project and the Biogasdoneright® model. They can optimise production, manage resources efficiently, innovate, while preserving biodiversity – all benefiting the environment and achieving a fully circular economy. Many farms have successfully integrated biogas into their operations, as showcased during the Farming Days 24 events. For instance, the Bagnod farm in Piedmont recently upgraded its two biogas plants to a 400 Sm³/h biomethane plant, the first funded by NRRP. Alongside energy production, they produce quality goods (wine, cheese, and cold cuts), practice digestate fertilisation, use advanced data mapping, and prioritise animal welfare, with year-round grazing for their cows.
Why was the Biogas Training Network founded in 2014?
Marion Wiesheu (Head of Qualification and Safety Department, German Biogas Association): Since 2005, the German Biogas Association (Fachverband Biogas) has been developing standardised training for biogas operators in Germany. In 2013, the introduction of mandatory safety training under TRGS 529, “Activities in the Production of Biogas,” prompted the creation of the Biogas Training Network in 2014. Founded by the German Biogas Association, the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water, and the German Association for Water, Wastewater, and Waste, the network addressed the need to train approximately 16,000 plant managers and representatives. The network continues to provide high-quality, standardised training programs, working closely with public authorities to ensure recognition and relevance. Its insights contribute to evolving training requirements and industry standards.
How has the Biogas Training Network evolved since then?
Marion Wiesheu (Head of Qualification and Safety Department, German Biogas Association): Today, 14 quality-assured educational institutions offer safety training under the unified teaching and examination framework of the Biogas Training Network. In addition to safety training for plant managers and their representatives, courses are now available for maintenance activities, biowaste processing, and employees of the biogas industry. The training content is regularly updated to reflect new developments, such as Leak Detection and Repair procedures. All training courses within the Biogas Training Network are now also accessible online and include a centrally organised digital examination, conducted by the German Biogas Association. Upon successfully passing the exam, participants receive an official certificate issued by the Biogas Training Network.
Ensuring compliance and preparing clients for sustainability certifications is a key feature of your software. Could you mention the biggest challenges companies face in meeting these standards and how your software addresses them?
Thorsten Nascimento Rohling (Managing Director & Product Development at agriportance GmbH): One of the main challenges in meeting sustainability certifications like REDcert-EU or ISCC-EU is identifying and organising the correct data for audits. Companies often need to demonstrate that each biomass delivery meets specific sustainability criteria, such as proof of a signed self-declaration from suppliers, delivery receipts to verify sustainability attributes, and lab analyses for biomethane yield. These extensive data requirements create complexities and increase the risk of non-compliance due to missing or misplaced documentation. Our software simplifies this process by providing an intuitive data management solution that centralises all required documentation and compliance records. This ensures that verification data is easily accessible and consistently organised, reducing the time spent preparing for audits and minimising potential non-conformities. By automating data validation and streamlining workflows for certification, we enable our clients to confidently meet regulatory standards while focusing on their core operations.
Looking ahead, how do you see the future evolution of your software? Are there any new features or functionalities you plan to develop to further support biogas operators in optimising efficiency and sustainability in the years to come?
Thorsten Nascimento Rohling (Managing Director & Product Development at agriportance GmbH): As regulatory requirements continue to expand, biogas operators must also enhance the tools they use to stay compliant and competitive. Reporting obligations are intensifying, with growing demands for documentation and validations. Additionally, new registers, such as the AIB Hub and the Union Database, require robust data integrations. Our roadmap includes enhancing API capabilities to enable seamless connections to these evolving systems and strengthening our mass balance tracking features. This will give producers and marketers a comprehensive view of addressable markets and the specific compliance requirements for each. By continuously updating our software to meet these diverse needs, we help biogas operators optimise both their efficiency and sustainability, ensuring they are well-prepared for a rapidly evolving market landscape.
You have been involved in both national and international initiatives. How important are global collaborations for advancing the biogas industry, and what lessons can Poland learn from other countries to accelerate its biogas and biomethane production?
Anita Bednarek (Head of Sustainability, Goodvalley): Global collaboration simplifies many processes and brings together different perspectives, knowledge and resources. It allows us to push the boundaries of understanding and find solutions to complex problems. But not only. It connects science, business, and administration so that knowledge and resources can be transferred in all directions. Thanks to this we can face many challenges, including those in the biogas industry. A global approach to collaboration fosters innovation, accelerates progress and gives access to valuable data. And this is where Poland should start – by analysing clever best practices and replicating them at national level. We should use good practices, analyse legal solutions proven in other countries, reduce bureaucratic burdens or simplify investment procedures. In Poland, planned investments in biomethane amount to EUR 3.4 billion. We are the EU leader on this issue together with Denmark and Italy. But… in Denmark 30% of the gas in the grid is biomethane, Germany has more than 10,000 biogas plants and Poland has only 400 biogas plants and no biomethane plants. This can only be changed by making use of proven solutions used in other countries, i.e. global cooperation, e.g. in the context of functioning support systems.
As a trailblazer in the biogas sector, what advice would you give to other women looking to enter the biogas or renewable energy sectors, and what can be done to make the industry more inclusive for women to enter and succeed in this field?
Anita Bednarek (Head of Sustainability, Goodvalley): First of all, I would say to be courageous. To not be afraid to pursue your passions, goals and plans. To not give up and to be patient. It is not easy for us – women. So, we are afraid (wrongly) to show that we also have something to say, that we can do a lot for this sector, that we have ideas, that we are up to the job. This is not easy. Over my 15 years of activity in the biogas industry, I have had to deal with many different situations. But I didn’t give up. I have proven with hard work and commitment to a subject I believe in that you can. The change in the industry’s openness for women is noticeable. I want to believe that it is due to the fact that our potential has finally been recognised and not due to ESG reporting obligations. Over the last few weeks, I have conducted the biogas workshops schools, and it was a very positive surprise to me that there were many girls among the students. This means that the industry is ready for women, but we are the ones who must take that first step.
