Socogas, 10 million investment for biomethane plant

Socogas is investing 10-11 million in biomethane: the Fidenza (Parma) group will open its first site for the production of this gas. It has in fact acquired a plant in the municipality and of Sorbolo-Mezzani (Parma) that currently produces biogas and will be converted into biomethane with a capacity of 400 cubic metres per hour and an installed capacity of 1.7 MW. It will produce 3.5 million cubic metres of biomethane per year that will be fed into the national gas grid. The plant will be supplied with agricultural biomass from farms in the neighbouring area.

"We are aware of the social and environmental responsibility of a large group like ours, which is why our commitment to sustainable and renewable energy sources continues to grow. Biofuels are today the best ally in the energy transition to achieve decarbonisation and climate neutrality goals,' commented Patrizia Zucchi, president and CEO of the group.

"Biomethane is an example of how the circular economy makes it possible to simultaneously aim at compatible development goals and energy self-sufficiency, in an important synergy with the agricultural world, which represents the pride of our territory," added Tommaso Moroni Zucchi, Head of Green Energy Development for the Socogas Group. Biomethane is obtained from the purification (upgrading) of biogas obtained from the treatment and valorisation of agricultural waste in an anaerobic digestion process that also leads to the production of digestate, which can be reused in the fields as an organic fertiliser to replace chemical fertilisers.

Today, the Socogas group operates in various fields of the energy sector: supply of LPG, electricity and methane, marketing of lubricants, it is a leading player in trading and advanced logistics and operates an extensive network of road distributors. It has a turnover of EUR 800 million. In addition to biomethane, Socogas is active in other green sectors: from research and development of bio LPG, to the inclusion of Green Hvo fuel in its network of road distributors, to the design and construction of photovoltaic systems for homes and companies.