Geomembranes aid responsible farming in Sistema.bio’s modular biodigestors

OVERVIEW

Access to clean energy and regenerative agriculture remains a pressing challenge for rural and peri-urban communities around the world. In many of these areas, farmers still rely on costly, polluting fuels and face limited access to efficient waste management systems. Biodigesters systems convert organic waste into usable biogas and nutrient-rich fertilizer, offering a practical and decentralized solution.

Sistema.bio, a global social enterprise, has made this technology accessible through its modular, prefabricated biodigester systems designed specifically for small and medium-scale farmers. Compact, scalable, and easy to assemble, these systems are delivered with all required components and are operational within days. Once installed, they transform livestock manure into methane-rich biogas for cooking or heating, and a pathogen-free organic slurry that revitalizes depleted soils.

To ensure these biodigester systems are reliable across varied climates and terrains, the internal containment structure must be robust, flexible, and durable. In 2017, Sistema.bio selected Solmax as its geomembrane supplier for the critical liner component. Solmax’s GSE^® LL geomembranes provide the containment needed for effective anaerobic digestion and long-term system performance. Today, Solmax supplies liners to Sistema.bio’s manufacturing operations in both Mexico and India, supporting a growing network of farming communities adopting clean energy solutions.

This collaboration is built on a simple, yet powerful idea: use smart materials to deliver a farmer-centric solution that changes lives.

CHALLENGE

Sistema.bio provide biodigester kits designed for maximum usability and impact. Each unit includes a flexible biodigester chamber, biogas-compatible piping, and accessories for immediate farm use. These kits are designed to be deployed in remote or low-resource environments, where installation must be efficient and equipment minimal.

Due to the primary feedstock being animal manure, the biodigestion process generates internal pressures and temperature variation. This places specific demands on the liner material. The geomembrane must serve as a gas-tight, durable containment barrier. It must withstand the chemical conditions of anaerobic digestion and retain flexibility throughout constant inflation and deflation cycles.

These systems are installed in diverse geographies, from high-humidity tropics to dry, sun-exposed landscapes. This requires the liner to perform reliably under UV exposure, high temperatures, and irregular foundation conditions. The liner must also be compatible with the modular production process, and easy to weld and seal in the field, often by locally trained crews.

Sistema.bio’s growing presence in Asia, Africa, and Latin America has created the need for consistent and timely liner supply to its production facilities. This requires a material partner with reliable logistics, scalable production, and the ability to support decentralized deployment at scale, without compromising on technical standards or product quality.

SOLUTION

Solmax’s GSE LL geomembrane was selected as the best-fit material to meet these demands. The liner exceeds GRI-GM17 standards and delivers high tensile strength, elongation, and stress crack resistance – attributes that are essential for biodigester performance. Its enhanced flexibility allows it to conform to uneven terrain and absorb minor shifts in the ground without tearing or leaking.

Available in both 1.25 mm (50 mil) and 1.5 mm (60 mil) thicknesses, GSE LL liners are supplied in roll and pre-welded tube formats, streamlining manufacturing and simplifying field assembly. The material’s weldability also enables secure seam construction during installation, even in the unpredictable environments where these systems are most often deployed.

To ensure uninterrupted production, Solmax coordinates liner delivery from two regional hubs: Thailand for the Indian plant, and North America for the Mexican plant. This dual-source approach helps Sistema.bio keep pace with global demand, while minimizing inventory pressure or shipping delays.

While the relationship is not bound by exclusivity, Sistema.bio currently sources all its biodigester liners from Solmax. This is a testament to the performance of the material, but also to the responsiveness and technical support provided by the Solmax team. From advising on installation protocols to troubleshooting in the field, Solmax plays a quiet but essential role in ensuring each biodigester delivers reliable results.

Once installed, the geomembrane becomes the heart of the system, sealing in organic waste, capturing methane gas, and safely containing the slurry until it can be used on crops. Its puncture resistance and elongation capacity make it well suited for the realities of life on small farms, where ground conditions are rarely perfect.

What makes this solution remarkable is its simplicity. With the right materials and design, a biodigester can be delivered in a crate, assembled in a few hours, and begin transforming waste into fuel and fertilizer by the end of the week.

These systems are not only reducing dependence on wood or fossil fuels – they are cutting greenhouse gas emissions, enriching soils, and helping farming families build long-term resilience. Each digester means less time collecting firewood, fewer expenses for fertilizer or gas, and better air quality in the home. Farmers gain a closed-loop system that turns a daily burden like manure into something useful, empowering, and environmentally restorative.

The durability and flexibility of the liner are what make this transformation possible. And when a product is deployed in communities that need it most, simplicity becomes strength.

This shows how high-performance geosynthetics can go beyond large-scale industrial sites to serve small-scale, life-changing technologies. When materials science meets social purpose, the result is not just a product, it’s progress.

Images courtesy of Sistema.bio, used with permission