​ORLEN Południe, a company from the ORLEN Group, has been analyzing the possibility of building 20 agricultural biogas plants based on innovative Polish technology, in order to manage substrates generated by farms and convert them into electricity and biomethane. With this, the company will create a new business line and enrich its portfolio to include another bioproduct. A letter of intent in this respect was signed by ORLEN Południe at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with H.CEGIELSKI-POZNAŃ, National Center for the Support of Agriculture and the University of Natural Sciences in Poznań.

- The biogas plant construction project is important for all parties signing this memorandum. This is important for the Polish economy and for the country’s energy security. We are proud that Polish industry is capable of implementing state of the art technologies in production, and cooperate with other companies interested in investing in such solutions. The implementation of a comprehensive biogas plant development project is an important step towards the construction of an efficient and economically and energy-effective system of renewable energy sources. It is also an excellent example of merging of different interests sharing a common denominator - Polish capital - says Zbigniew Gryglas, Vice-Minister of National Assets.

 
The signed letter of intent concerns the construction of biogas plants on 20 largest farms in Poland, which are currently managed by the National Center for the Support of Agriculture, governed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

 
- A consistently implemented governmental program has been modernizing Polish agriculture. The letter of intent we signed today proves that scientific knowledge, business and administration can be joined. Working together, we will be able to diversify our energy sources, improve the competitive standing of our agriculture, and attain specific climate-related objectives. New investments will definitely improve the economic effectiveness of companies belonging to the Center for the Support of Agriculture - says Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

 
In the farm biogas plant construction project, ORLEN Południe is the main investor. The company has been consistently transformed into a modern bio-refinery, where ecological investments are implemented. The construction of Poland’s first and Europe’s largest green propylene glycol production installation is underway in Trzebinia, together with a pilot installation for producing lactic acid using microorganisms. The company is planning to build a second generation bioethanol production installation in Jedlicze. Furthermore, the Trzebinia plant is also developing a hydrogen fuel production installation running on biomethane, among others.

 
- For us, the production of electricity and biomethane from biogas is a lucrative solution above other things. The investment will allow us to achieve our National Index Target and will respond to the current needs in Europe. Biotechnologies are the directions all economies, including Poland, are pursuing. The European Green Deal states that climate neutrality must be achieved by 2050, which requires the pursuit of alternatives to traditional energy sources. Our investments will significantly contribute to the achievement of this target by Poland - stresses Marcin Rej, the President of the Management Board of ORLEN Południe.

 
According to the memorandum, the agricultural biogas plants will be manufactured by H.CEGIELSKI-POZNAŃ. The company owns a license to manufacture innovative biogas plants based on a Polish patent belonging to Dynamic Biogas. The structure developed by H.CEGIELSKI-POZNAŃ is technologically superior to the competitive solutions available, which creates a vast potential for the domestic development of this form of renewable energy sources.

 
- We have an opportunity to revolutionize the Polish rural areas, supplying state of the art technologies for managing farming waste which, correctly processed in our biogas plants, could be used to produce electricity and biomethane, which are particularly important in the development of renewable energy sources. We are happy that the biogas plant construction project was approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Center for the Support of Agriculture and the Ministry of National Assets. In turn, the rates adopted by the Ministry of Climate for electricity obtained from biogas guarantee a fast return on investment, thus contributing to economic effectiveness - says Rafał Kreduszyński, the President of the Management Board of H.CEGIELSKI-POZNAŃ.

 
The biogas plant construction project would be carried out on farms which are currently ran by companies with ownership supervision performed by the National Center for the Support of Agriculture (KOWR). In the future, these farms could be purchased or leased from KOWR by ORLEN Południe.

 
- Polish agriculture is becoming more and more innovative and has been developing better ways to utilize its resources. Biogas plants can be used to manage the substrates available, and to produce electricity and biomethane from them. They are also perfect for manufacturing digestate which is used to fertilize soil. In joining this project, we wanted to familiarize farmers with methods for obtaining electricity from renewable sources on their farms, in order to take full advantage of their potential - says Sebastian Pieńkowski, Deputy Director General of the National Center for the Support of Agriculture.

 
Cooperation of state treasury companies with KOWR and the University of Natural Sciences in Poznań would allow not only to diversity energy sources, strengthen Poland’s position with respect to RES, or to develop our native technologies, but also to apply our scientific accomplishments in business and industry.

 
- We are leaders in the design of technological solutions for the biogas industry, we have the largest biogas laboratory in Poland. We are focusing on the development of the sector of renewable energy sources, since it has the potential to significantly increase the feasibility of agricultural production, while simultaneously raising our environment protection standards. The project will allow us to take full advantage of the potential of our scientists and will enable a broad transfer of knowledge from science to practice, all to the benefit of the Polish economy and the natural environment - says Prof. Krzysztof Szoszkiewicz, Vice Chancellor in charge of Science and Foreign Cooperation and the Chancellor-Elect of the University of Natural Sciences in Poznań.