LiBiTec's On-Site Nitrogen Generation in Spain Reaches 3,370 Tons Annually, Cutting Costs by 40%

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Linares Biodiesel Technology S.L.U. (hereinafter referred to as LiBiTec), based in Spain, has increased its annual nitrogen production capacity to 3,370 tons with the on-site nitrogen generation system installed by Gaslogic. Compared with the traditional liquid nitrogen supply model, related costs have been reduced by over 40%, along with a reduction of 287 tons of CO2 emissions.

LiBiTec initiated its on-site nitrogen generation process in 2022, with the first Nitrogenera® unit installed by Gaslogic. As the plant expanded and gas demand increased, the company added two more units in 2026. The facility now operates three nitrogen generators in total, with a combined output of 2,844,080 standard cubic meters (Nm³) per year.

Nitrogen is used in multiple operational stages at the biofuel plant, with one of its primary applications being tank inertization, which maintains a safe atmosphere during the storage and handling of raw materials and intermediate products. Such facilities previously relied on purchased liquid nitrogen, which was delivered by tanker trucks after a chain of production, transportation, and distribution, exposing the company to supply costs and market conditions.

With the switch to on-site nitrogen generation, the gas is obtained directly from the atmosphere at the point of use, with output adjusted to consumption levels and supply linked to plant operations, eliminating dependence on external deliveries. LiBiTec's system was expanded through independent modules, and the 2026 capacity increase was achieved by adding new units to the existing setup. According to Gaslogic, the expansion required no civil works and no interruption to plant production.

Following the expansion, LiBiTec's annual capacity reached 2,844,080 Nm³, equivalent to 3,370 tons of nitrogen. Compared with traditional liquid nitrogen supply, the system avoids approximately 496 tanker truck deliveries per year and saves around 287 tons of CO2 emissions.

Cost improvement is one of the key outcomes of the plant's transition to on-site nitrogen generation. Nitrogen-related costs have been reduced by over 40%, while maintaining 24-hour continuous production and reducing exposure to nitrogen market price fluctuations. For facilities that frequently use nitrogen, producing it at the point of use also allows capacity to be adjusted to actual demand.

Gaslogic believes this model can be extended to industries with high nitrogen consumption, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, energy, automotive, metallurgy, biofuels, and laser cutting. The Nitrogenera® is supplied in containerized form and is available in multiple configurations to suit the production requirements of different facilities. In its project summary, Gaslogic noted that on-site nitrogen generation is becoming an increasingly mature alternative, as industrial users shift from purchasing nitrogen to producing it themselves to gain supply autonomy, reduce costs, and establish more stable and sustainable security of supply.