Cepsa has begun a comprehensive program to research and develop facilities for producing biomethane from agricultural and livestock waste. The aim is to decarbonize its industrial operations and replace conventional natural gas with this renewable energy source. The company envisions a diversified portfolio of projects advancing toward 2030, targeting an annual output of 4 TWh. That level of generation would power about 650,000 homes and would meaningfully cut emissions from energy parks and chemical plants. It would also bolster the development of green hydrogen for sustainable mobility, while repurposing up to 10 million tons of waste each year and preventing around 728 thousand tons of CO2 emissions. In effect, this is comparable to planting 8.7 million trees annually. —
As part of this objective, Cepsa has formed a strategic alliance with Kira Ventures, a prominent Spanish firm specializing in promoting and managing renewable energy assets, with the goal of enabling up to 15 biomethane plants in Spain during this decade. The partners are currently developing the first five projects, planned for Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León, with operations expected between 2025 and 2026. — Kira Ventures.
These facilities will utilize waste from agriculture and livestock, including manure and sludge sourced from the sites themselves. They will be powered entirely by renewable electricity and will recover heat generated by the biogas process, contributing to a closed-loop, sustainable operation. —
Cepsa Biofuels Director Javier Antúnez stated that the company remains focused on second-generation biofuels through the expansion of biomethane plants. This move represents another milestone in Cepsa’s strategy to decarbonize operations and accelerate the energy transition. By producing biomethane, the company expects to substitute natural gas in industrial processes, advancing energy-saving goals and contributing to emissions reduction. The initiative also aligns with broader objectives to support green hydrogen production and offer a sustainable mobility alternative. —
Alberto Rodríguez Gallego, partner at Kira Ventures, emphasized that the agreement reinforces a commitment to developing new renewable energy vectors and supports sector decarbonization. Kira believes biomethane will play a pivotal role in enhancing Spain’s energy independence during the shift to a carbon-neutral economy and in delivering more efficient management of livestock and agricultural waste. The Spanish market is poised to benefit from the technology’s potential, and Kira Ventures intends to play a central role in this transition. — Ventures; Cepsa.
This milestone sits within Cepsa’s 2030 strategic framework, Positive Action, which targets decarbonizing both its own activities and those of its customers, especially through green molecules such as biofuels and green hydrogen. The roadmap includes a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions for scopes 1 and 2 by 2030, with a commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 through biomethane integration in industrial processes. The carbon intensity of energy sold is expected to fall by 15% to 20% by 2030. —
Biomethane shares many attributes with natural gas, including similar properties and pipeline compatibility, which means it can be injected into existing networks without major new infrastructure. In addition to displacing natural gas in industrial use, biomethane can feed green hydrogen production and serve as a sustainable mobility option. —
Biomethane is a second-generation biofuel produced from biogas created through anaerobic digestion of biodegradable organic waste from agricultural, livestock, and industrial sources. After purification through upgrading, it becomes biomethane ready for use. This approach offers a sustainable path for waste treatment by enabling the repurposing of waste into renewable energy and valuable byproducts like sustainable fertilizers or manures for agricultural lands. The broader aim is to support sustainable rural development and strengthen the ties between agriculture and livestock sectors in Spain. —
The production of renewable gases aligns with the REPowerEU initiative to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and curb CO2 emissions. It also contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, including SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy, SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production, and SDG 13 on climate action. —
Cepsa is a global company with a long-standing commitment to sustainable mobility and energy. It operates one of the world’s leading chemicals businesses with a strong emphasis on sustainability. In 2022, the company introduced its 2030 plan, Positive Motion, which aims to position Cepsa as a reference in energy transformation across Spain and Portugal by prioritizing sustainable mobility, biofuels, and green hydrogen. The goal is to place customers at the center of the business and collaborate to advance decarbonization efforts. —
Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria guide Cepsa’s actions as it pursues a Net Positive ambition. The company plans to cut CO2 emissions in scopes 1 and 2 by 55% this decade and reduce the carbon intensity index by 15% to 20%, with a target of net-zero emissions by 2050. —