Ence is committed to growth in bioproducts, renewable energy with biomass and digitization, hand in hand with the European “Green Recovery”

Ence, fully aligned with the guidelines included in the “European Green Pact”, has presented a Manifesto of Interest (MDI) within the Program to Promote Industrial Competitiveness and Sustainability driving projects, in order to cover its energy growth plans renewable energy and cellulose within the framework of its firm commitment to the circular bioeconomy.

The Recovery Fund agreed by the European Council will allow Spain to mobilize a significant volume of investment in the coming years. Its objective is, beyond overcoming the health and economic crisis and the recovery of employment, the modernization of the economy, so that the recovery is green, digital, inclusive and social.

Ence’s tractor project focuses on the valorization and development of biomass resources for their use and transformation into bioenergy and bioproducts. It also includes and from a transversal point of view, digitization to promote sustainable management and the use of digital control systems, remote supervision and the improvement of the eco-efficiency of processes.

The diversification of production at the Navia (Asturias) biofactory towards cellulose for textile use and absorbent products, as well as the construction of a new biomass cogeneration plant in Almería are investments included within the company’s Strategic Plan for the 2019 period -2023. Both projects have the land, advanced environmental processing and a large part of the engineering already developed. Likewise, they will be reinforced with the promotion of new technologies included in Ence’s proposal.

Currently, these growth plans are in the waiting phase, due to the situation caused by the health crisis. The financial support of the European funds, together with the healthy balance sheet presented by the company, would allow its execution immediately.

Its key role in the green, inclusive and social recovery is justified by the significant generation of industrial and rural employment in areas of the so-called “Empty Spain”, also acting as an important traction within Spanish industry, since much of the machinery and engineering will be of national production.

The growth project in Navia will involve an investment of 495 million euros, will create 1,250 jobs, and will include the implementation of the most advanced technologies to guarantee its environmental performance. In addition, it will not only be energy self-sufficient, but it will also produce more renewable electrical energy than it will consume during the process, favoring the decarbonization of the electrical system.

On the other hand, the 36 MW cogeneration plant in Almería will involve an investment of 158 million euros, and will prevent the emission of 89,900 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. It is estimated that it will create a thousand jobs. With this plant, Ence provides a sustainable solution to the environmental problem caused by the plant debris generated by the greenhouses of the province, valuing them energetically and generating green energy.

With a non-refundable grant of 50% of the project, this cogeneration plant could supply the energy to market without the need for premiums to renewables. The project includes innovative improvements, such as a biomass drying plant with the heat of the turbine, or the efficient use of water resources, which will make it a benchmark for the circular economy.