In 2022, we set out with an ambitious challenge. Today, we have received a coveted international award.
The Le Cortine plant of Siena Ambiente S.p.A. won the AD&Biogas Industry Award 2025 in the >1 MW category at the World Biogas Summit and Expo in Birmingham, organized annually by The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) together with the World Biogas Association.
This is a double satisfaction for us at Entsorga. Not only because the award comes from the leading trade fair for biogas and anaerobic digestion, but also because it recognizes a plant that integrates four of our proprietary technologies in the DA section: Spider™ (automated bridgecranes), Cow™ (semi-dry plug flow digesters), pre-treatment systems, and Eagle Cloud™ (control and management software).
During the award ceremony, the Commission’s motivation was announced, which unanimously evaluated the design approach and integration into the landscape positively. “The various aspects and technological solutions integrated into a single plant constitute a unique and globally effective model. The Commission’s assessment also took into account the positive integration of the plant into a valuable environmental and historical context and the utmost respect for the landscape of the Crete Senesi area.”
“Congratulations to all the winners and heartfelt recognition for the AD & Biogas Industry Awards 2025 competition,” said Chris Huhne, President of ADBA. “This year’s record number of entries reflects the growth and vibrancy of the sector worldwide and presented our jury, whom we thank for their dedication, with the difficult task of selecting the winners from among excellent entries.”
“We were delighted to see so many projects from abroad being recognized this year,” added Charlotte Morton OBE, CEO of WBA. “Congratulations to all our winners, and thank you to our judges and everyone else who participated in this year’s competition. See you soon! And keep up the good work. “
The main challenges faced (and overcome).
The Le Cortine di Siena plant uses the most advanced technologies for food waste treatment, positioning itself as a potential benchmark for all future waste-to-biomethane anaerobic digestion plants.
The main challenge faced was the tight deadlines imposed for injecting gas into the grid: the total construction period was limited to just 15 months. The plant was also among the first to integrate a carbon dioxide purification system, which added further complexity to the system configuration.
The other significant challenge was to demonstrate the energy value of food waste: anaerobic digestion is, in fact, more easily combined with the treatment of energy crops (e.g., corn or sorghum grown specifically to produce biogas), manure and livestock slurry, or dairy industry waste. However, as confirmed by methane biochemical potential (BMP) tests, FORSU has a remarkable energy density and is available in abundant quantities: anaerobic treatment therefore becomes a particularly advantageous solution for recovering valuable amounts of renewable energy and at the same time solving the problem of urban food waste, which, if not properly treated, generates significant greenhouse gas emissions.
“The plant is an extraordinary example of infrastructure that, using the best available technologies, enables the Siena area to achieve ambitious sustainability and landfill reduction targets,” commented Entsorga Italia President P.P. Cella Mazzariol, who accepted the award. “It also demonstrates that organic waste can—and must—become a strategic ally in the fight against climate change. Food waste is a highly productive and resource-rich substrate, capable of producing green molecules that are essential for our country’s energy transition and independence.”
Thanks to our entire team and partners SECIT IMPIANTI SRL and Tecnostrade Srl, who are with us in the consortium of companies that was awarded the entire revamping project. Together, we took on an important challenge, which we can now say we have successfully overcome!
