AB Energy, a subsidiary of the Italian group AB, specializes in biogas cogeneration solutions and technologies for the production and purification of biomethane. With over 40 years of experience and a presence in more than 20 countries, it offers modular systems such as ECOMAX® y BIOCH4NGE®, adapted to projects of different scales. In Spain and Portugal, the company is developing plants to help decarbonize industry through the efficient recovery of local organic waste. It is a Global Sponsor of the 2025 Renewable Gas Show.
Peter Lawrence es Sales Director for Spain and Portugal at AB EnergyAn environmental engineer with over a decade of experience in Europe and North America, he has developed his career in the fields of renewable gases, byproduct recovery, and anaerobic digestion. From his position at AB Energy, he works to bring innovative biogas and biomethane solutions to the Iberian market.
- AB Energy has developed biogas and biomethane projects in many countries. What international lessons do you think are most useful for applying in Spain and Portugal today?
First of all, thank you for the opportunity to share in the drive for the biomethane sector in Spain and Portugal. At AB Energy, we have developed solutions for biogas and biomethane projects for over 40 years in 22 countries through our technologies. upgrade, cogeneration and liquefaction.
Our European neighbors have strong biogas and biomethane markets, and we have observed that the main driver for change has been institutional support through a binding energy policy. Some nearby cases are Italy, where an injection tariff has been set to meet its objectives; Germany, where the value of biomethane varies depending on the plants' sustainability indicators; or France, where small farmers are able to invest in the construction of new plants because smaller-scale projects are incentivized and injection or fuel injection responsibilities are shared. reverse-flow with the network manager.
These examples demonstrate that clear rules attract investment to boost renewable gas production, as well as for rural and industrial development and energy sovereignty.
- Your modular solutions, BIOCH4NGE® and ECOMAX®, are well-known in the industry. How are these technologies evolving to gain efficiency, flexibility, and integration with other energy systems?
Innovation is a fundamental condition for AB. This year we have placed special emphasis on the energy efficiency and flexibility of our solutions. While our upgrade BIOCHANGE® has improved in efficiency and scalability, our ECOMAX® cogeneration equipment becomes H2 ready, which means they can be fed with natural gas or biomethane streams with mixtures of up to 20% hydrogen, expanding their versatility.
The combination of both technologies guarantees flexibility to switch between the gas and electricity grids, depending on the plant's specific needs, sales prices, or local regulations. This combination offers solutions to one of the major challenges facing renewables: accumulating generated power. In this way, we seek to increase the reliability of the facilities in the event of a power grid failure, allowing them to operate on stand-alone power without interrupting biomethane production.
Finally, we have also implemented integrated control systems capable of managing the upgrade, cogeneration, heat production, photovoltaics, or other energy carriers, through algorithms and objective functions. This allows us to offer cutting-edge solutions tailored to each client's needs.
- In developing biogas projects, cooperation with farmers or industries is essential. How does AB Energy work to ensure these partnerships become long-term success stories?
We are closely connected and committed to closeness within the sector at all levels. At the structural level, our commitment extends from our own president, who is a member of the board of directors of the CIB (Italian Biogas Consortium) and actively participates in the biomethane strategy in Italy, to various memberships and specific actions in European and Spanish associations.
These forums help us connect with industry leaders, but perhaps the two keys to our success are direct cooperation with plant managers, making our local staff available for support and technical service, and cross-cutting support for local stakeholders through the dissemination of good practices and environmental education.
- A biogas plant allows waste to be recycled and generates energy and organic fertilizers. What role does this circular economy play in AB's strategy?
AB is a company born in the agricultural sector, so we understand the challenges and opportunities that these types of projects present. Our strategy is aimed at maximizing the sector's circularity.
This commitment is reflected in the R&D of our products and their constant evolution. Starting with the development of biogas cogeneration equipment, continuing with solutions for upgrade from biomethane to complex renewable gas liquefaction systems and the CO2 itself separated in the process.
Looking to the future, we continue to work on various solutions, such as emissions treatment and digestate treatment. These technologies are aligned with the company's long-term philosophy: offering all the necessary product lines to our customers to be a single partner in the biogas value chain.
- Looking ahead to 2030, what role does AB Energy hope to play in the European biomethane market, and what motivates you most about this path?
The European Union's renewable energy production goals are clear, and at AB, we offer a portfolio of technological solutions to meet them. Technologies are the starting point, but the company's structure is what ensures its success.
In Spain, as in the rest of Europe, we maintain a sales and maintenance structure capable of ensuring the proximity and attention necessary to maintain the efficiencies and performance of the first day over the long term. These guarantees are an essential condition not only for the sustainability of each project, but also for the sustainability of the sector.
The role we see ourselves playing in the near future is clear: to continue integrating our technologies into projects that transcend environmental, social, and economic benefits, and to maintain cooperation with our clients based on reliability, excellence, and customer satisfaction.
Pedro Lorenzo participates in the 18th International Bioenergy Congress with the presentation "Advancing biogas upgrading, cogeneration, biomethane liquefaction, and CO2 solutions for a sustainable future«, on October 1st at 15:30 pm within the second block dedicated to renewable gas technologies: https://www.congresobioenergia.org/programa-1/