Metabarri, the new plant resulting from a public-private alliance between the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, the Basque Energy Agency (EVE), and PreZero, was inaugurated today at the Artigas Ecopark. The facility converts organic waste into biomethane ready for grid injection, handling the entire process in one location.
This is the first plant in the State with a public-private alliance to perform this integrated process, from receiving and treating organic waste to obtaining biomethane. Consequently, waste deposited in the brown bin can be fully transformed into a source of renewable energy.
The infrastructure represents an investment of 25 million euros, having received over 17 million euros in subsidies from Next Generation funds. It occupies approximately 8,300 square meters and will have the capacity to treat up to 50,000 tons of organic matter annually, anticipating future challenges and making the circular economy a reality.
Elixabete Etxanobe, the Provincial Governor of Bizkaia, highlighted that "Metabarri perfectly represents the Bizkaia we want to build: a territory that turns its waste into resources and generates renewable energy, anticipating future challenges."
Mikel Amundarain, Director General of EVE, stated that the plant is "a new step in building a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable energy system for Euskadi, contributing to the decarbonization of numerous industrial consumptions." He added that "Euskadi is taking decisive steps towards this goal."
Borja Martín Zorita, Business Development Director at PreZero, recalled that "for decades, this region has been ahead in maintaining its leadership in the circular economy." He described the plant as "another example of technology and innovation" and "the fruit of public-private collaboration."
The construction of Metabarri addresses the need to adapt treatment infrastructure to the increase in selective collection of the organic fraction. Bizkaia's Comprehensive Plan for Prevention and Management of Local Competence Waste 2030 aims to advance waste separation and utilization while minimizing disposal.
The new plant will be capable of treating up to 50,000 tons of organic matter annually, complementing the capacity of existing composting facilities in Bizkaia. Thus, organic waste can become a new source of renewable energy, moving towards a model where waste is transformed back into resources.
Once fully operational, the plant will generate energy equivalent to the consumption of approximately 12,700 households per year. The use of biomethane will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 95% compared to fossil fuels.
The process begins with organic waste from the brown bin, which decomposes to generate biogas. This gas is then purified to obtain biomethane, similar to natural gas, suitable for the transport network of Enagás Transporte del Norte (ETN).
Key benefits of Metabarri include converting waste into renewable energy, reducing fossil fuel use, stable energy production, high energy efficiency (around 90%), usability via the existing natural gas grid, optimized compost production, and generation of local energy.
