Turning Waste Into Energy How Trovant is Powering the Future of Biogas and Biomethane

As industries and governments seek sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, the role of biogas and biomethane has come into the focus. At Finboot, we recently hosted an insightful conversation between Juan Miguel Perez and José Manuel Estrada.

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Meet the Experts

Juan Miguel Perez is a visionary leader in blockchain-enabled traceability and sustainability. As the CEO and Co-founder of Finboot and host of Green Supply Chain Insights, he has played a pivotal role in integrating digital solutions to enhance transparency in supply chains.

José Manuel Estrada is an environmental engineering expert and entrepreneur dedicated to revolutionizing waste-to-energy solutions. With a background in academia, he transitioned to the private sector to co-found Trovant in 2018. Trovant is at the forefront of transforming organic waste into valuable bioenergy. By focusing on biogas purification, they enable industries to convert waste into biomethane, a renewable gas that seamlessly integrates with existing natural gas infrastructure.

The Rise of Biomethane: Market Trends and Challenges

As José Manuel explains in the interview, the production of biogas from organic waste is not a new concept—it's been around for decades. Essentially, when organic waste is treated by anaerobic digestion biogas is generated. Biogas is already valuable because it contains energy, which has traditionally been harnessed by burning the biogas to produce heat and electricity.

However, recent advancements are taking biogas production to the next level. The focus has shifted towards purifying it by removing carbon dioxide and other undesired pollutants with the goal to isolate methane. This purified methane (known as biomethane) has a significant potential—it can replace traditional fossil fuels and decarbonize applications that typically rely on natural gas.

Juan Miguel adds that it's also very relevant how we're leveraging our existing infrastructure, which not only has an economic impact but also contributes positively to the environment. The key is that we don't need to reinvent everything; instead, we can continue using what we have while decarbonizing energy sources.

Energy Accessibility

Although access to reliable and affordable energy is a critical factor in improving quality of life, millions of people around the world still lack access to electricity and clean energy sources; that’s why biogas is a game-changer.

Trovant focuses on refining raw biogas from waste into a natural gas equivalent. Small-scale biomethane facilities near waste sources enable local farms and food industries to generate energy that can be consumed locally, reducing environmental impact and strengthening communities. Biogas is cost-efficient compared to fossil fuels, making it a viable alternative; its accessibility allows regions to reduce economic dependence on oil and natural gas.

Digital Traceability for Regulating the Biomethane Value Chain

As the biomethane market evolves, ensuring compliance with sustainability regulations is becoming increasingly important for producers, distributors, and off-takers.

Juan Miguel talks about the importance of securing the chain of custody to ensure the energy produced is truly sustainable. As he explains, the traceability of the supply chain is critical to proving the carbon footprint of the biomethane injected into the network or sold.

José Manuel further emphasizes that every stage of the value chain—from waste sourcing and processing to transportation—affects emissions calculations. Regulatory frameworks require detailed tracking of these steps to validate sustainability claims, but also allows for the monetization of sustainable energy.

Monetizing the Biomethane Industry

As mentioned, the value of renewable biomethane is very much linked to its carbon footprint. This traceability isn’t just about compliance—it’s also essential for justifying the product premiums associated with renewable biomethane. Off-takers need clear evidence of the carbon footprint to justify paying higher prices for greener gas.

José Manuel acknowledges that while the waste treatment sector has traditionally been seen as a necessary environmental investment, the industry is at a turning point. There is now a pressing need for investment in understanding every step of the waste-to-energy process—how waste is sourced, how it's treated, and the energy consumed in that treatment. Many existing facilities have traditionally overlooked these aspects, but with low investment costs, implementing digital traceability solutions can transform operations and unlock new efficiencies.

Juan Miguel Perez remarks on the importance of thinking beyond immediate feasibility and envisioning future models for waste-to-energy traceability.

Conclusion

As industries navigate the transition to sustainable energy, innovations like those developed by Trovant will play a crucial role in decarbonization efforts.

At Finboot, we recognize the importance of digital traceability in ensuring the integrity and transparency of these emerging energy solutions. Our MARCO Track & Trace platform enables companies to certify their sustainability efforts, ensuring compliance with regulations and reinforcing trust in renewable energy sources.

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