Giancarlos Hernandez
Jean-Christophe Hesteau
Roberto Jimenez
EGADE Business School Tecnologico de Monterrey
Ezequiel Reficco
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A biodigester uses biomass made from the nopal cactus to create methane gas, which can then be used to generate electricity. Through this technology, they provide an alternative to fossil fuels, while also reducing costs.
The founder, Rogelio Sosa, has a simple explanation for the technology that they developed: “ The biodigester is the replica of a cow's belly, because when a cow is farting, it's in fact methane gas”.
One phrase according to Miguel Angel Ake, Technical Director of Nopalimex, to explain the company's inspiration: “As Albert Einstein already said, 'The [definition of] madness is to keep on doing the same expecting different results'."
100 cubic meters of biogas per ton can provide electric energy for 320 houses in the municipality or provide the street lighting all over Zitacuaro.
- 40% costs reduction (gas mainly)
- Better economic conditions for "El Manjar del Campo" employees
- Job creation around this initiative
- Green industry generation through avoiding CO2 production
- Avoidance of gasoline usage
- Exploration of alternatives to biomass usage
- Promotes circular economy
- Easily replicable
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Nopalimex is the only factory globally that generates energy from the nopal cactus. Everything started in 2007 when Rogelio Sosa, founder of Nopalimex, was looking for options to lower production costs at its factory "El Manjar del Campo", which produces tortillas made of nopal, corn and dehydrated totopos.
