Starting from Piedmont the Farming Days of the CIB – Italian Biogas Consortium which opens the doors of the farms of Biogasdoneright. The Bagnod di Piverone agricultural company is a historic and excellent entrepreneurial reality that has chosen to invest in the circular economy. In fact, after having built a biogas plant in 2006, today it has decided to pursue a new challenge, presenting the new biomethane plant from 400 Sm3/hamong the first achieved thanks to the investments of National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR)and close to entry into operation.
Christian Bagnod of the Bagnod Agricultural Company commented: “We are happy that the CIB has chosen our company to launch the Farming Days. Thanks to the resources of the PNRR we have started the construction of our biomethane plant in conversion of existing biogas plants. We believe a lot in this choice. Investing in biogas and biomethane, in fact, can lead to a reduction in fossil fuels and, furthermore, through the use of digestate we have brought about a reduction in synthetic fertilizers. A concrete commitment to defend the territory and towards the well-being of the community.”
Insights into ecological practices decree aimed at promoting the spread of ecological practices in the biogas production phase and in agriculture and which includes investments for 193 million euros. After publication in the Official Journal, the sector is now awaiting the publication of the operational rules by the GSE to define the methods of access to the tenders. Space for the themes ofagriculture 4.0: the data management in agriculturethe most efficient techniques can provide a soil fertility mapping and minimal tillage of the land. Finally, focus onefficient use of digestate and its organic fertilizer properties to improve soil health.
Farming Days focused on the innovations that have affected the sector in recent months. First of all the measures that concern the continuation of electricity production from biogas: the approval by the EU Commission of the new FER2 decree and the ARERA resolution on guaranteed minimum prices for biogas plants. Both are very important for the future of Italian biogas and on which the action of the Italian Biogas Consortium has focused in recent months. By the way, commented the President of the CIB Piero Gattoni: “The protection of all energy production from biogas remains one of the main objectives of the Consortium’s action. In this sense we hope that ARERA can favorably welcome our proposals brought forward during the open consultation on the resolution on guaranteed minimum prices so that the measure can be as inclusive as possible. The approval of the FER 2 decree by Brussels after seven years of waiting is another piece in the definition of the reference framework for our sector. It is necessary as soon as possible to define a long-term plan to give continuity and stability to electricity production from biogas on a trajectory that goes hand in hand with that envisaged for the production of biomethane”.
On the biomethane development front: the results of the first three tenders are at the centre, a few days after the opening of the fourth competitive procedure. On this he added Cats: “This stage comes a few days after the opening of the fourth tender for the development of biomethane and a year after the end of the PNRR process. The recent measures approved in favor of the sector certainly encourage the push towards investments in the Plan but it is necessary to accelerate and put into practice every useful measure that can facilitate the achievement of the final objectives of the PNRR. Furthermore, in light of the estimates proposed with the PNIEC, of which we are waiting to know the definitive text by the end of the month, our country must now be able to outline a regulatory framework that will support the development policies of the sector until 2030 and beyond. A long-term trajectory that will allow us to give greater impetus to the decarbonisation path, stimulating the necessary investments towards achieving the objectives of energy security and ecological transition”.
Luca Barberis, GSE Renewable Sources Directorate, underlined the leading role of agriculture within the energy sector and in the valorization of territories. On the PNRRBarberis commented on the measures underway for the development of biomethane: they are 157 plants allowed with the first three calls, however 630 million smcwith a significant horizon to 2030.
The first stage of Farming Days 24 was also the opportunity to present the new Farming for Future Foundation, born from the CIB project of the same name which today represents a tangible commitment towards a sustainable agricultural future, highlighting the need for resilient agricultural practices and environmentally friendly.
The agricultural associations of the area brought their testimony: the Secretary of the Coldiretti Ivrea area and Rivarolo Massimo Ceresole; the President of Confagricoltura Piemonte, Enrico Allasiaand the President of CIA Biella, Guido Coda Zabetta.
The Farming Days will continue on October 10th in Veneto, in Salizzole (VR), at the Cazzola agricultural company. For more information the website is online https://www.consorziobiogas.it/farming-days.
