A biogas plant based on swine effluents managed to reduce greenhouse gases equivalent to what 2,851 cars emit in a year.
This is Pacuca Bioenergía, located in Roque Pérez and operational for five years. The plant has become one of the most concrete demonstrations of how the circular economy can transform an environmental liability into a high-impact energy solution.
In 2024, its operation allowed for a reduction of 12,232 tons of CO₂e, a figure that reflects the potential of this model to tackle climate change and improve the competitiveness of the agroindustry.
An integral production and energy project
With an initial investment of nearly 6 million dollars, the plant produces more than 8,000 MWh per year, enough energy to supply about 5,000 people. All the electricity generated is injected into the national interconnected system.
The key is to close the production cycle. The effluents from 50,000 pigs in a full cycle, which were previously sent to treatment lagoons, now feed three biodigesters of German and Spanish technology. In this process, the slurry is converted into biogas and then into electricity.
“From an effluent that went to the field, in the middle we are generating clean energy that enters the grid,” explains Daniel Fenoglio, president of Pacuca Bioenergía.
Environmental and agricultural impact
The impact is twofold:
- The release of methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases, is avoided.
- A valuable byproduct for agriculture is generated.
After anaerobic digestion, the solid fraction is composted as biofertilizer, while the liquid fraction is used to nourish more than 300 hectares through targeted irrigation. This has allowed for a reduction in the use of inorganic fertilizers and improved soil quality.
“Environmentally, we improved 100%. We avoid emissions, generate energy, and produce fertility for the fields,” highlights Fenoglio.
Cogeneration and energy efficiency
The plant operates under a cogeneration scheme: besides electricity, it recovers heat to maintain the temperature of the digesters and new productive uses for that thermal surplus are being evaluated.
The main engine, similar to a naval one and entirely powered by biogas, ensures continuous operation 24 hours. The plant has environmental certifications and is supervised by the ENRE, ensuring quality and sustainability standards.
Economically, the project is sustained with a 20-year energy sale contract, providing stability and viability to the initial investment.
A global trend: measuring and reducing the carbon footprint
Pacuca’s progress anticipates a global trend: the carbon footprint will be one of the decisive metrics in the coming years. Measuring it, reducing it, and certifying it is no longer an administrative formality but the key to accessing international markets and green financing.
Value chains that incorporate these tools early will be better positioned to compete in a scenario where decarbonization and energy efficiency will define global competitiveness.
A replicable model for the agroindustry
Pacuca’s development is part of the growth of biogas in Argentina, where around 20 plants with different biomass origins are already operating. However, the Roque Pérez plant stands out for its scale, stable operation, and vertical integration: animal production, effluent treatment, and energy generation in a single productive ecosystem.
Therefore, it becomes a replicable model for other agro-industrial chains—dairy, poultry, feedlots, and regional agro-industries—seeking to reduce their environmental footprint and add energy efficiency.
Five years after its launch, Pacuca demonstrates that the circular economy is not just a concept but a concrete development strategy. In a context where energy transition and decarbonization are key, the Roque Pérez plant shows that producing clean energy from swine effluents is strategically necessary for the future of the Argentine agroindustry.
