In his speech, García-Page stressed that “we are facing a project that is committed to the revitalization of a city that has been an industrial capital, and has been especially linked to the energy sector.”
He also stressed that “the profitability of clean energy and the circular use of natural resources, such as that of this project, is enormous, and in Castilla-La Mancha we must take advantage of it.”
Colmenares stated that the project “constitutes an example of a contribution to the just energy transition thanks to the acquisition of Ence in 2017 of the site of the former Elcogás thermal power plant, for the construction of this new renewable biomass generation plant. A project that is in line with the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 and that has allowed us to maintain quality industrial employment, which contributes to the revitalization of the economy of the area and that favors the decarbonization of our energy system.”
The new 50 MW biomass generation plant will produce an estimated 325,000 MWh / year, equivalent to the energy needs of more than 60,000 people. To do this, it will consume around 238,000 tons / year of biomass, among which is pomace, vine shoots, olive leaf, and woody forest and agricultural remains.
All of this biomass will comply with the Decalogue of Ence for the Sustainability of Biomass as a Fuel, a pioneering initiative in the Spanish company launched to guarantee its commitment to sustainability in the use of biomass and the care of the environment in the use from this renewable energy source.
In addition, the activity of the Puertollano plant will allow a reduction in the uncontrolled burning of agricultural stubble – which has a high environmental impact -, while contributing to the maintenance of more than 1,300 direct and indirect jobs, most of them in rural areas. These jobs will be added to the 500 direct jobs generated by the plant during its construction.
Ence has made an investment of about €100 million in its new plant that has the best available techniques to guarantee a permanent respect for the environment and the highest levels of energy efficiency in such an installation.
