The Cabildo de Gran Canaria, through its Ministry of Environment, Climate, Energy, and Knowledge, has driven the modernization of the Gran Canaria North Ecopark by installing an advanced thermal drying system. This technology is designed to process digestate, an organic material resulting from the biometanization of waste, which is currently in a paste-like form.
The primary objective of this initiative is to significantly lower the moisture content of the digestate, yielding a dry and sanitized product. This will simplify its handling, storage, and transportation, while enhancing its use as an organic amendment or fertilizer. The new installation replaces existing centrifuges with higher-efficiency equipment and adds a compact thin-layer thermal drying system, capable of reducing moisture to approximately 65%.
This modernization will also positively impact the ecopark's energy benefits. By optimizing the drying process, less biogas will be required for the thermal boiler, freeing up some of this energy for other uses within the facilities or for injection into the electrical grid if there are surpluses.
The new drying system is located in the process hall of the Biometanization Phase II and is part of complementary works with a total investment exceeding 10 million euros. Of this amount, 6,121,845 euros are specifically allocated to improving the digestate treatment and drying system, with an additional three million euros in funding from the Fdcan.
Through this investment, the Cabildo de Gran Canaria aims to develop more modern and efficient environmental infrastructure, improve waste management, and promote a circular economy model focused on the utilization of materials and the energy generated.
