Located in the municipality of Fundão (Portugal), this biomass plant is one of the largest forest bioenergy projects in the country and forms part of the international roll-out of the ENSO model. The project was developed together with our local partner FPT Energía and was launched in the summer of 2019, since when it has become a benchmark in renewable production with a territorial impact.
The Fundão plant generates 15 megawatts of electrical power (MWe) through a forest biomass combustion system. This capacity allows the annual production of approximately 120,000 MWh of renewable electricity, equivalent to the average consumption of more than 28,000 Portuguese households.
Every year, more than 134,000 tonnes of local forest residues are used, with a moisture content between 25% and 30%. The use of this indigenous resource strengthens the circular economy, supports forest management, and reduces environmental risks such as wildfires.
With an availability of over 8,000 hours per year, the Fundão plant produces approximately 120,000 MWh per year, actively contributing to the Portuguese energy mix with 100% renewable and manageable energy.
The plant’s water-tube boiler reaches a thermal capacity of 49 megawatts thermal (MWt), operating at 62 bar and 440 °C. This thermal energy is converted into steam to drive the turbine and generate electricity with high operational efficiency.
The plant is connected to the national electricity grid through a 15-kilovolt line, ensuring the stable injection of sustainably generated green energy.
The system’s design and engineering allow for a guaranteed thermal efficiency close to 90%, even when operating with fuels of varying particle size and moisture content.
The Fundão Biomass Power Plant, located in the district of Castelo Branco (Portugal), is one of the largest forest bioenergy projects in the country and an international benchmark of the ENSO model. Developed in partnership with our local partner FPT Energia and supported by the European Marguerite Fund (holding 90% of the capital), the plant entered into operation in 2019 with the aim of converting forest residues into renewable energy in a stable, efficient and sustainable manner.
With a thermal capacity of 49 MWt and an installed electrical capacity of 15 MWe, the plant was designed to operate for more than 8,000 hours per year, achieving a guaranteed thermal efficiency close to 90%. Its water-tube boiler, engineered and supplied by ENSO, is adapted to fuels with varying moisture content and particle size, while its air-cooled condenser system significantly reduces water consumption, reinforcing its environmental profile.
The project utilizes local forest residues, mainly pine and eucalyptus, both in the form of wood chips and logs processed on site. In doing so, it not only generates green energy but also contributes to forest cleaning and wildfire prevention, one of Portugal’s major environmental challenges.
In addition to supplying approximately 120,000 MWh of renewable electricity per year—equivalent to the average consumption of more than 28,000 households—the Fundão plant has generated a direct impact on the regional economy. Its commissioning created dozens of direct jobs and around 300 indirect jobs across the biomass value chain (forest management, transport, and logistics).
This catalytic effect turns the plant into a driver of territorial cohesion, helping to retain population in rural areas and generating sustainable opportunities linked to the bioeconomy. The integration of the ESCO (Energy Services Company) model further ensures that renewable supply remains competitive and dispatchable, reinforcing Portugal’s energy transition.
The municipality of Fundão, located between the Gardunha and Estrela mountain ranges, is characterized by its strong agricultural and forestry tradition. The biomass power plant has successfully integrated into this context, adding value to local resources and offering a sustainable alternative to dependence on fossil fuels.
Connected to the national electricity grid at 15 kV, the facility has become established as a strategic regulated asset within the Portuguese energy mix. Its development, under an integrated scheme in which ENSO led the design, supply, and technical supervision, while Magestop is responsible for operation and maintenance, stands as an example of how bioenergy can combine technological innovation, positive environmental impact, and regional socio-economic development.
