A revolution rooted in the circular economy: thanks to separate waste collection, organic waste is fed into an anaerobic digestion process to produce biogas.
Biomethane: a clean resource of biological origin
So, what makes this source of methane “bio”? Quite simply, it’s how it is produced: not by drilling into deep underground deposits, but by fermenting organic waste in dedicated facilities. Biomethane can be produced continuously, it is inexhaustible, and production can be increased simply by building more plants. This makes it one of the clearest examples of a circular economy.
In Spilamberto, a biodigester converted into a biomethane plant
An innovative plant for the production of biomethane is in operation in Spilamberto, in the province of Modena. It was developed by the NewCo Biorg, a joint venture between the Hera Group and Inalca (Cremonini Group), through a total investment of around €28 million and the use of the best available technologies.
Starting from separately collected organic waste and agri-food effluents, the plant – the result of converting an old biodigester – produces, at full capacity, 3.7 million cubic metres of biomethane per year, a 100% renewable fuel intended for transport, and around 18,000 tonnes of compost.
A cutting-edge plant for the energy transition and the circular economy
The 100% renewable natural gas is produced through anaerobic digestion of organic waste from separate collection carried out mainly in Modena and the province, along with waste from local agri-food processing and meat production by Inalca. Once refined, it becomes biomethane and can be fed into the gas network.
Significant environmental benefits: around 7,000 tonnes of CO₂ avoided
Thanks to the injection of biomethane into the network and its use in transport, significant environmental benefits are expected. Every year, around 3,000 tonnes of oil equivalent (TOE) in fossil fuels are saved, and approximately 7,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions are avoided. Absorbing such an amount of CO₂ would require, on average, 280,000 trees.
What happens in our plant in Sant'Agata
Organic waste, collected through separate waste collection, undergoes anaerobic digestion to produce biogas. This is how the process works: the waste is shredded and screened, then remains for about 21 days in four horizontal digesters, where suitable microorganisms carry out the digestion process and produce biogas (composed of methane and carbon dioxide). After this, the biogas undergoes an upgrading, or purification, phase using pressurised water: the carbon dioxide dissolves and separates from the methane. The result is biomethane, a gas with a methane content above 95%, and a completely renewable source of energy. Not only that: at the end of the digestion process, lignocellulosic material is added to the outgoing solid fraction, producing a compact mass that then undergoes composting to create high-quality compost, which can be used as potting soil or agricultural fertiliser.
Biomethane is therefore another revolution rooted in the circular economy, one that we at Hera Group are committed to advancing. We do all this with the goal of creating shared value, as Andrea Ramonda, CEO of Herambiente, emphasises: “The direction we have taken looks towards the industrial sector with an increasing focus to creating shared value and partnerships. We are aware that sustainable waste management, focused on recovery and in full compliance with regulations, is essential in today’s world and generates benefits for the entire community.”
Working together for a circular city
At Hera Group, we have joined forces with Bologna Airport and Tper to launch a circular economy project that contributes to decarbonising urban mobility and improving air quality.
What does this partnership involve? The Airport delivers its organic waste to Hera, which collects it at the Sant'Agata Bolognese plant together with similar waste produced by citizens and transforms it into biomethane that Tper purchases to feed the fuel tanks of a significant part of its bus fleet.
This is an important step forward for our Group and for two major organisations in our area, which, like us, serve hundreds of thousands of people. We share a commitment to improvement and sustainability, in line with the UN 2030 Agenda.
NexAction: innovation and safety for the Apennine gas network
Remotely operated and controlled valves that enable real-time monitoring and rapid response across the network, safeguarding service continuity for communities in areas most exposed to landslide and flood risk.
Real-time safety: the digital solution to landslide and flood risk
Across the Apennines, Hera Group is introducing a new technology to its gas network: NexAction, a solution developed and patented by Inrete Distribuzione Energia in partnership with Isif, designed to make distribution safer and more resilient in areas where the terrain is most vulnerable.
At the heart of the innovation are remotely operated and controlled valves that enable continuous infrastructure monitoring and real-time intervention.
In the event of an emergency, such as a landslide or ground movement threatening to damage a pipeline, the system can isolate the affected section within 150 seconds, with no need to wait for a technician to reach the site.
This ensures uninterrupted service and immediate safety for residents in the most at-risk areas.
Predictive maintenance and clean energy: a self-powered system for remote locations
Beyond emergency response, remote monitoring allows the condition of valves to be checked on an ongoing basis, enabling targeted, predictive maintenance that raises safety standards and prevents faults before they occur. NexAction's defining strength, however, lies in its complete energy independence: the system is self-powered via photovoltaic panels and buffer batteries.
This makes it ideally suited to the most remote locations in the Apennines, where connection to the conventional power grid is not readily available.
It is a strategic choice that combines uninterrupted service continuity with a firm commitment to environmental sustainability.
Looking ahead: investments for local areas and the Sentinel evolution
NexAction is part of Hera Group's Corporate Venture Building programme and represents a concrete commitment to the Apennines, backed by an investment of approximately €1.5 million to reduce landslide and flood risk.
The valves are already operational in several municipalities in the Modena area (including Serramazzoni, Vignola, Marano sul Panaro, Savignano sul Panaro, Pavullo nel Frignano, and Lama Mocogno), with the aim of expanding to cover nearly the entire foothill and mountain area of the province.
The project has also already entered its second phase through Sentinel, a system that monitors ground movement and pipeline joints in real time.
Together, NexAction and Sentinel protect the gas network even during the most intense weather events, establishing a technological model that will soon be applied to water networks as well.
