Spain-headed forest and energy major Ence Energía y Celulosa S.A (Ence) has announced that it has reached an agreement for the purchase of rights for the installation of a 50 MW biomass power plant in Puertollano, Ciudad Real. Furthermore, that it has signed a contract with SENER for the turn-key construction of the estimated EUR 115 million investment.
According to a statement, Ence had reached an agreement with Elcogás 12 months ago for the purchase of the site of its GICC plant in Puertollano, Ciudad Real. Since then the project has undergone environmental and administrative processing to obtain the different permits and authorizations needed to develop a 50 MW biomass power plant on the site as well as a supply of competitive and stable biomass fuel.
We must highlight the support of Endesa ─one of the main shareholders of Elcogás─ to the project since its inception, and its commitment to contribute to the economic development of Puertollano, the creation of employment in the area and the use of important local natural resources, said Ence in a statement.
According to Ence, there is an abundance of biomass available and the possibility of having a stable supply of fuel at a competitive cost. The plant will mainly use vine shoots and olive stone, as well as local forest residues, which will contribute to the sustainable use of these renewable resources and an important source of rural employment.
The construction contract with ENER will provide the plant with the “most advanced technologies” to guarantee optimum environmental performance. The EUR 115 million investment that Ence plans to carry out is expected to begin commercial operations in the second half of 2019 being joined by the biomass power plant that the company is currently building in Huelva.
