The ENSO Group has finalized an agreement with ACOR to construct in Olmedo (Valladolid) the largest biomass cogeneration plant in Spain to date. With an investment of nearly €70 million and backed by the Regional Government of Castile and León, the project will be executed under the Energy Service Company (ESE) model.
The signing of this project marks a milestone in the race for industrial decarbonization in Spain. The new plant will be built at the country’s largest sugar beet factory, creating over 30 direct jobs and more than 60 indirect jobs. Beyond meeting ACOR’s decarbonization goals, the project represents significant cost savings for the client and a positive impact on the local economy.
The signing ceremony was attended by Jesús Posadas, President of ACOR, and Mario Armero, President of ENSO. From the Regional Government of Castile and León, the Councillor for Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development, Gerardo Dueñas, and the Councillor for Environment, Housing, and Spatial Planning, Juan Carlos Suárez-Quiñones, participated.
Spain’s Largest Biomass Cogeneration Plant
The new ACOR biomass cogeneration plant will generate 346,000 tons of steam and over 45,000 MWh of electricity annually, covering most of the cooperative’s energy needs sustainably using forest and agricultural biomass.
As a green alternative to conventional energy generation, biomass enables companies to have a positive environmental impact. The plant’s electricity production will prevent the emission of over 60,000 tons of CO2 per year, reducing emissions by approximately 80%.
Construction of Spain’s largest biomass cogeneration plant under the ESE model began in the first quarter of 2023 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The new cogeneration system is planned to be operational in early 2024.
ACOR, Driving Change in the Industrial Sector through Biomass Cogeneration
The new biomass cogeneration plant in Olmedo will have a sugar beet processing capacity of 12,000–12,500 t/day, meeting the energy needs of a plant that produces 130,000 tons of white sugar, 40,000 tons of sugar beet molasses, and 60,000 tons of beet pulp annually.
For ACOR, this is a key step in promoting industrial practices aligned with the circular economy. According to José Luis Domínguez, General Director of ACOR:
“The agreement reached with ENSO reflects the Cooperative’s commitment to rural areas and its circular economy model, based on progressively decarbonizing its production processes and promoting sustainability. This sustainability ensures the future of the Cooperative’s operations through highly efficient energy processes and reduces environmental impact throughout the value chain.”
ENSO Strengthens Its Commitment to Industrial Decarbonization in Spain
The construction of ACOR’s biomass cogeneration plant represents a major opportunity to drive the industrial sector toward environmentally responsible practices. ENSO specializes in ensuring industrial energy supply through biomass, enabling companies across sectors to replace fossil fuels with efficient and sustainable energy alternatives.
According to Elías Hernández, CEO of ENSO:
“Spain is a country committed to renewable energy and ambitious in developing sustainable projects aligned with the energy transition. Regarding biomass energy, we currently utilize less than 30% of our potential, compared to up to 70% in other Eurozone countries. At ENSO, we aim to raise awareness of agricultural and forestry residue utilization and are actively developing plants to help Spanish companies meet their sustainability objectives.”
ENSO was the second company in Spain to obtain SURE certification, a voluntary system ensuring biomass sustainability. This guarantees that biomass used by ENSO complies with the EU sustainability criteria.
ENSO aims to manage over 1 million tons of biomass annually with an EBITDA exceeding €50 million, consolidating its leadership in promoting biomass use in the Iberian industrial sector.
Other ENSO Biomass Plants in Spain
The ACOR biomass cogeneration plant is ENSO’s second major industrial decarbonization project. Previously, ENSO signed a project with García-Carrión, a prominent Spanish food group operating in 145 countries. Located in Villanueva de los Castillejos (Huelva), this plant will consume around 10,000 tons of biomass, covering 100% of the company’s annual thermal needs.
Another major ENSO project is the Garray Bioelectric Plant in Soria. In collaboration with Carburos Metálicos, this project aims to improve energy efficiency in production processes using renewable CO2. With a 17 MWe electricity generation capacity, the Garray biomass plant exemplifies the international scale of ENSO’s energy projects. It has been recognized by the LIFE program as a European innovation project within the circular economy framework.