There is an Italy that looks to the future starting from its land, its stables and its countryside. \u00abWe want to identify those areas where excessive greenhouse gas emissions and nitrates in the groundwater, caused by intensive farming, have a significant environmental impact. That is where our action begins, with anaerobic digestion plants capable of producing biogas and biomethane, transforming a problem into an opportunity\u00bb.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The Retina<\/strong> project, promoted by Actarus Renewables<\/strong> and supported by the European fund Retina SCA<\/strong>, has been operational since 2022. In Campania<\/strong>, for example, the buffalo mozzarella supply chain coexists with areas vulnerable to nitrates: Retina operates precisely there, where the environmental impact is most evident. From a financial perspective, Retina represents a model of public-private partnership and sustainable industrial finance. Over \u20ac350 million invested with contributions from banks and national and European partners<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Retina plants are the beating heart of a silent revolution. The biogas upgrading<\/strong> process also produces biogenic CO\u2082, which is completely renewable and used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. \u2018What we produce is not just biomethane,\u2019 emphasises Franco Torra, \u2018but a replicable development model that combines clean energy, soil protection and the enhancement of local supply chains.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Retina aims to involve farmers, agricultural businesses and local communities in a network capable of generating shared value<\/strong>.
This is the story told by the Retina<\/strong> project, an infrastructure platform created with the aim of transforming the environmental challenges of intensive farming into sustainable energy resources and fertilisers.
Leading this challenge is Franco Torra<\/strong>, CEO and general manager of Retina Holding, who describes the company's mission as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
THE PROJECT<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The idea is simple but revolutionary: to intervene in areas of central and southern Italy where livestock farming and agriculture generate significant economic value but also exert considerable pressure on the environment.
This is where greenfield biomethane<\/strong> plants are located, powered by more than 60% livestock biomass and the remainder by agricultural by-products not derived from dedicated crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMEZZOGIORNO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Through anaerobic digestion<\/strong>, livestock waste is transformed into biogas and then into biomethane<\/strong>, a renewable source capable of powering the national grid and gradually replacing part of the fossil gas.
The process also produces biogenic CO\u2082<\/strong>, intended for the food and pharmaceutical industries, and biocompatible organic fertilisers<\/strong>, which can replace traditional chemical fertilisers in line with new European directives.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSOLID FOUNDATIONS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Following the partnership with the French group EREN Industries<\/strong>, the project has raised approximately \u20ac100 million<\/strong> in equity capital, in addition to \u20ac250 million in project financing<\/strong> guaranteed by SACE<\/strong> through the Archimede Guarantee<\/strong>.
The initiative is supported by a pool of leading banks: BNP Paribas, BPER, ING, Intesa Sanpaolo, Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 G\u00e9n\u00e9rale and UniCredit<\/strong>.
The eleven plants in the first phase \u2013 four in Lazio<\/strong> and seven in Campania<\/strong> \u2013 are already under construction and will be operational by the first half of 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
FROM ANIMAL HUSBANDRY TO ENERGY<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Anaerobic digestion technology transforms livestock waste and agricultural by-products, which would otherwise release methane, CO\u2082 and harmful nitrates into the environment, into clean energy<\/strong>.
The process takes place in the absence of oxygen: bacteria break down the organic matter, producing methane-rich biogas.
The latter is then refined to obtain biomethane, which is used to power homes, industries and compressed natural gas vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The solid residue, on the other hand, is further treated through aerobic digestion, generating organic fertilisers that return useful substances to the soil while reducing nitrate pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\nREPLICABLE DEVELOPMENT<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
In addition to reducing environmental impact, the plants create stable employment<\/strong> in rural areas and encourage the emergence of new professions related to maintenance and energy management.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSECOND PHASE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n