VIEW FROM THE TOP
MEXICO IS BIOGAS-READY
Aarón Martínez COO of CIAM Servicios Ambientales
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Sergio Martínez CFO of CIAM Servicios Ambientales
Q: What is CIAM’s comparative advantage compared to
the first major biogas-based project was launched in
household names like Veolia?
Chihuahua, and it got stalled for two years as the regulatory
AM: Our size allows better customer service. We have
framework was not solid enough to allow the producer to
come across cases where biogas installations use European
trade energy surpluses with CFE. This case sent a negative
equipment, such as Jenbacher or Guascor, to name a few.
message to the biogas market, putting on hold Mexico’s
When this equipment fails, the aftersales services tend to take
biogas industry between 2008 and 2010.
a long time. Our response time is usually no longer than 24 hours, even during holidays. Another advantage is our turnkey
Q: How does developing a biogas project differ from
project portfolio, covering project design, execution, operation
developing other renewable energy projects?
and maintenance. We are sensitive to our clients’ investment
AM: For the farming sector in particular, as a would-be
plans, usually spread over three to four years, where we design
biogas producer, you need permits, land ownership and
the project’s phases based on their financial capability. Also,
readily available manure. The approximate cost for a
our flexibility allows us to meet a client’s particular needs.
biogas-producing system varies between US$300,000 and
Whether they just want equipment advice or only require
US$500,000. There are several additional benefits derived
project design, we can adapt to these specific needs.
from implementing this technology. Primarily, the first step prior to biogas production is to treat residual waters,
Q: How has biogas development in Mexico changed since
enriching it as a natural fertilizer. Also, bio-digesters eliminate
the reform was launched?
manure’s negative externalities like odor and flies. Simply
AM: Originally, biogas expanded thanks to the Kyoto
put, farming production’s vicious cycle turns virtuous.
Protocol’s carbon credits, not from a national clean-energy policy. This allowed the arrival of foreign capital invested
Q: What is CIAM’s long-term objective for the biogas
directly in biogas projects in Mexico to mitigate greenhouse
industry?
gas emissions, as those investments became carbon credits
AM: We are looking to provide the best technical solutions
that could be used in Europe. Between 2005 and 2007, close
for our clients. This means inserting the latest top-tier
to 320 biogas projects nationwide saw the light of day in the
equipment and technologies to our projects to ensure their
farming sector.
success and obtain increased replication. In Central America, our strongest market, we virtually have no competition.
This stepping stone created a window of opportunity to
Mexico is a more complex market given biogas’ standing
capitalize on the generated biogas by directing it toward more
in the energy mix. Our goal is to become the national
energy-efficient mechanisms. Monterrey spearheaded this
reference in everything related to biogas for Mexico and
shift for the rest of the country as it installed the first biogas-
the regional measuring stick for Central America.
based engines to generate energy for self-supply schemes. In Mexico, we hope that our work since we started From a regulatory standpoint, administrative and permit-
operations in 2005 will spur the government to pay more
obtainment procedures are more complex for large biogas
attention to this technology by creating a specialized
projects because CRE is more involved now. For instance,
government agency. This government body could ideally be backed by a federal program or policy. We want to shift the prevalent mindset surrounding biogas by bringing to life
design,
a pilot project on a pipeline to adapt biogas for residential
construction, supervision and works management for Clean
solutions. Also, it is fundamental to raise awareness in
Development Mechanisms and Anaerobic Bio-digestion projects.
general about the benefits and virtuous cycles of this
Their services focus primarily on the agro-industrial sector
particular technology.
CIAM
Servicios
Ambientales specializes
in
the
