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A Model to Observe: How Seville in Spain Is Turning Orange Waste into Energy
The municipal water company of Seville in Spain, Emasesa, will initiate this new program using 35 tons of oranges at a facility that already converts organic matter into energy. The methane captured from the fermentation of oranges will power the generators of the water purification plants. If the orange experiment is successful, old fruit may one day supply excess energy to the grid. Scientists report that initial tests show that 1,000 kg of oranges can supply five homes for a day. If all the oranges in Seville were harvested, they could power 73,000 houses.
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15 Thousand Tons of Oranges to Generate Energy in Spain
Approximately 15 thousand tons of oranges are produced in this region of Spain, but Spaniards do not eat oranges and most of the surrounding fruits are exported to the United Kingdom as marmalade. The orange from Seville is also an important ingredient in Cointreau and Grand Marnier.
“This project will help us achieve our goals of reducing emissions, energy self-sufficiency, and a circular economy while generating cleaner energy.”
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Brazilian scientists are simultaneously advancing two research projects on clean hydrogen and driving solutions that could transform the energy matrix, enhance industrial competitiveness, and accelerate large-scale emission reduction targets.
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Advancement in renewable energy: A R$ 150 million project launched by Petrobras and Finep aims to create state-of-the-art electrolyzers for green hydrogen, strengthening national research and preparing Brazil to compete in a billion-dollar energy market.
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Illiterate or semi-literate grandmothers were trained to repair solar systems, open rural workshops, and light up homes that still depended on kerosene.
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The world has bet on green hydrogen as the fuel of the future, but now faces the side effect: producing 1 kilogram requires about 9 liters of ultrapure water, and the largest projects on the planet are precisely in the driest regions of the Earth, where water is already scarce for people.
About the Process
Oranges look great on a tree, but when they fall and are crushed under car wheels, the streets become sticky with juice and black with flies. The city hall employs about 200 people to collect the fruit.
Native to Asia, the bitter orange was introduced by the Arabs about 1,000 years ago and is well adapted to the climate of southern Spain.
“We hope that soon we can recycle all the oranges in the city,” said Beninho Lopez, head of the environmental department at Emasesa. To achieve this, he estimates that the city will need to invest around 250,000 euros.
“The juice is a fructose composed of very short carbon chains, and the energy performance of these carbon chains during the fermentation process is very high,” he said. “It’s not just about saving money. Oranges are a problem for the city, and we add value with the waste.”
