Greenalia activates its first 50 MW biomass power plant in Spain, after a 135 M€ investment

• The company, based in A Coruña, connects the facility, one of the largest in the south of Europe, to the grid with an annual capacity to treat half a million tons of forestry biomass
• During its construction, 1,000 jobs were mobilized and in operation it employs 140 people between field and plant work

Greenalia has started up its Biomass Plant in Curtis-Teixeiro (A Coruña, Galicia), a facility with the capacity to treat, once fully operational, half a million tons of certified forestry biomass. It stands on a plot of over 100,000 sq meters on the industrial estate and has a 50 MW capacity. 

The development of this plant has required an investment of 135 million euros and has mobilized over 1,000 jobs in the area and, now operational, it employs a total of 140 people in transport, logistics and facility management. The biomass used comes from certified forests located within a 100 km radius, a green fuel that enters the site in the form of bales. The plant’s electricity production avoids 140,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, an amount equivalent to avoiding the emissions produced by the circulation of 95,000 cars per year. 

Manuel García, Greenalia’s CEO, points out that: “(…) with this milestone, Greenalia consolidates itself as an important player in the de-carbonization process of Spain, moreover it shows the rigor and professionalism of our company in achieving its 2023 business plan goals ahead of schedule.”

“The kick-off of operations of our Biomass Plant, confirms the value of these technologies in environmental protection since it reduces greenhouse gases while also cleaning our woods and reducing the risk of wildfires. Moreover, it consolidates the huge potential that Galicia has in renewable energy as a source of growth for the whole Autonomous Region, helping in population settlement and creation of new job opportunities” the CEO added to his statement.

In Galicia, over 100,000 forestry operations are carried out annually, from which almost 10 million cubic meters of wood are extracted (2019 data), mainly eucalyptus and pine, with a waste generation of more than 2 million tons. The start-up of this facility will make a significant contribution to the cleanliness of the Galician forests, as it collects and valorizes this biomass which, if it were not used, would otherwise have been wasted. Biomass that would otherwise, in most cases, remain in the forests, with the risk of causing fires and pests.  

Through this project, the company demonstrates its commitment to the land, both from the point of view of generating employment and wealth in the area and in terms of respect for nature, as it contributes to the maintenance of the area’s forests and the prevention of fires, encouraging the collection of small wood waste that is normally discarded for industrial use. It also creates employment in rural areas, as forestry companies are generally closely linked to the environment in which they work. 

The Curtis-Teixeiro biomass plant is Greenalia’s second renewable energy generation project after Miñón wind farm and will be followed by the rest of the wind and photovoltaic farms included in its strategic plan.

The Facilities

Greenalia’s Biomass Plant incorporates the latest technology applied to biomass energy generation infrastructures in compliance with the highest standards and European strictest regulatory frameworks. The facilities are highly efficient with respects to energy generation and a very reduced level of CO2 emissions. It uses dry refrigeration which means it barely consumes water and does not generate spills.