Spain – Motors – Procurement procedure for COMPANYIA D’AIGÜES DE SABADELL, S.A. for the SUPPLY, INSTALLATION AND COMMISSIONING OF TWO COGENERATION ENGINES WITH A BIOGAS TREATMENT SYSTEM AT THE "EDARS" IN SABADELL, to be awarded through an open procedure.

Description

Supply, installation and commissioning of a cogeneration engine with a biogas treatment system at the Riu Sec WWTP (Sabadell).

Key facts

Procedure

open

Submit via

https://aiguessabadell.tecnicascompetitivas.com/?lang=ca_ES

Contact

apino@cassa.es

Bids opened

9 Nov 2026, 09:00 GMT

Regime

utilities

Category

supplies

Ground given for limiting competition

The buyer’s own stated reason for awarding without open competition, as published. Their assertion, not a finding.

Urgency: COMPANYIA D'AIGÜES DE SABADELL, S.A. manages the integrated water cycle service in the municipality of Sabadell, which includes the public services of potable and non-potable water supply, trunk sewerage and wastewater treatment. The wastewater treatment facilities include the Sabadell-Riu Sec Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP Riu Sec) and the Sabadell-Riu Ripoll Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP Riu Ripoll). At present, both at the Riu Sec WWTP and the Riu Ripoll WWTP, there are periods during which biogas production exceeds the energy recovery capacity of the existing cogeneration engines. This limitation makes it necessary to divert the surplus biogas to the flares, where it is burned without any possibility of making use of its energy potential. During the months of August and September, the volume of biogas diverted to the flares at the two facilities amounted to 165,104 Nm³, equivalent to an estimated potential electricity production of 363 MWh. This situation has a significant environmental and energy impact, since the combustion of biogas in the flares generates atmospheric emissions without providing any energy recovery. By contrast, its recovery through cogeneration engines would make it possible to generate renewable electricity, reduce dependence on external electricity supply and avoid the emissions associated with the generation of the electricity thereby displaced. For indicative purposes, the recovery of the potential 363 MWh of electrical energy would have made it possible to avoid approximately 72.6 tonnes of CO₂ associated with the generation of the displaced electricity. In addition, the combustion of biogas in the flares may generate residual emissions of unburned methane, carbon monoxide and other pollutants. The scale of the energy losses recorded shows that this is not an isolated occurrence, but rather an operational limitation requiring priority action. If the rate of surplus biogas observed during the period analysed were to continue, the potential loss of electricity production could reach 2,178 MWh per year. Justification for urgent processing In view of this situation, it is considered necessary to proceed as a matter of urgency with the procurement procedure for the acquisition and installation of the new cogeneration engines at the Riu Sec WWTP and the Riu Ripoll WWTP. The urgency of the measure is based on the need to bring to an end, within the shortest possible timeframe, a situation that entails an ongoing loss of renewable energy resources, atmospheric emissions resulting from combustion without energy recovery, and increased operating costs at the facilities. Accordingly, any delay in implementing the measure would prolong an environmentally and energetically unfavourable situation that is inconsistent with the energy-efficiency objectives applicable to wastewater treatment facilities. For all the foregoing reasons, the need to expedite the procurement procedure on grounds of public and environmental interest is considered duly justified, and urgent processing of the procedure is therefore proposed. In addition, the new cogeneration capacity will provide greater operational flexibility and redundancy, allowing the operation of the engines to be adjusted to actual biogas production and reducing the need to flare biogas during periods when the existing equipment is undergoing maintenance or is otherwise unavailable.