Biogas: When Sustainability Meets Technology

Over the years, the biogas sector has seen steady growth in Italy: already by 2003, there were over 1,000 plants, thanks to the efforts of numerous small agricultural entrepreneurs. However, it wasn't until 2018 that the first biomethane plant became operational.

Since then, interest in this technology has grown rapidly. As of mid-2024, there are 99 authorized and operational plants (source: GSE).
The real turning point came with the law of September 22, 2022, linked to the "National Recovery and Resilience Plan" (PNRR), which made biomethane a strategic asset for Italy’s energy transition. After the first two auctions in 2023, which involved only about ten plants, 2024 has seen a significant acceleration: over 230 plants in the third and fourth auctions, and nearly 400 accepted in the latest call for bids, published just a few days ago.

STI Engineering’s Role

STI Engineering has been active in the biomethane sector for some time, working both on the conversion of existing biogas plants and on new greenfield projects in the agricultural field. The company supports EPC firms during the executive engineering, procurement, and construction phases.

Our experience in the Oil & Gas and Industrial sectors allows us to optimize the entire project lifecycle, from design to commissioning, managing the technological evolution of plants from biological systems to fully-fledged oil refineries.
We provide comprehensive support to Technology Providers and End Clients, thanks to a multidisciplinary technical team capable of handling all project phases, including construction supervision.

360° Technical Support

Our contribution begins with the permitting and due diligence phase, through the design of optimized layouts for piping and electrical cabling. We then move on to developing integrated 3D models (Revit), which include piping, architecture, and structural calculations, incorporating geotechnical and geological data from the earliest stages.

At the plant level, we specialize in ATEX and PED regulations, guiding Clients all the way to final certification through detailed technical reports and analyses.
Thanks to our internal databases, we prepare bills of quantities and technical specifications based on P&IDs and mass/energy balances, offering concrete support in procurement decisions.
We also handle the Balance of Plant, designing fire protection systems, stormwater management, and automation (PLC/SCADA).

From Design to Construction

During the construction phase, we support the Client directly: from construction supervision to quality control, from material verification to final plant completion.

We are proud to contribute to the growth of biomethane in Italy and to support our Clients along this path of sustainable transformation.