479 biomass-powered heating and cooling networks in Spain

In 2022, 17 new biomass networks were put into operation, an increase of 3.7% compared to 2021, and there are now 479 installations, while in power the increase has been 10.1%, reaching 462 MW.

The Spanish Biomass Association has published its latest report on biomass-fueled heating and cooling networks in Spain, with data up to 2022, presented both overall and broken down by autonomous communities and provinces. Since the previous inventory review in 2021, 46 new networks have been built.

Wood chips are the most widely used biofuel, followed by olive pomace and pellets. In total, biomass-fueled heating and cooling networks consume around 200,000 tons of biofuels per year .

In 2020 and 2021, most new installations were small-capacity systems, likely due to the pandemic. In contrast, 2022 saw fewer installations than in previous years, but those with higher unit capacity.

Catalonia and Castile and León continue to lead the way in terms of the number of networks and installed capacity . Catalonia has 218 installations (93.5 MW), representing 45.5% of all inventoried networks. Castile and León has 69 networks and 141.5 MW of installed capacity, more than 30% of the total capacity in Spain.

Each of them is following different models and promotional strategies . While in Catalonia the provincial councils and the county councils promote the construction of networks in small municipalities, aware of the management and use of their forest heritage; in Castile and León, the public company SOMACYL, through agreements with interested municipalities, and private initiatives are behind large-scale projects in the provincial capitals and other towns.

It is noteworthy that only 10 networks offer cold storage, four of which are located in the Balearic Islands.

The Future of Biomass-Powered District Heating Networks in Spain:
Companies and developers such as Veolia, Engie, REBI, DH Ecoenergías, and SOMACYL continue to move forward with new projects in various Spanish cities. During the roundtable discussion on district heating networks, organized at EXPOBIOMASA 2023 by AVEBIOM and ADHAC, their representatives shared their vision with the audience regarding the integration of this infrastructure into the generation of thermal energy for citizens in the coming years.

An interesting field is opening up to increase efficiency and reduce primary energy consumption in networks through the hybridization of biomass with other renewable technologies and with the injection of industrial waste heat into existing and newly built networks.

Electrifying existing housing stock is considered difficult both technically and economically. However, district heating networks could potentially be converted into electrical energy storage systems.

Among the needs that the district heating sector requires to be addressed in order to accelerate its implementation are the definition of a specific regulatory framework; the consideration of infrastructures as public utility of general interest in order to expedite the awarding of licenses; and the reduction of VAT on heat generated in biomass networks.

Despite the difficulties, the EU's goal of decarbonizing the economy requires exploring all possible avenues, and biomass-fueled heating networks are undoubtedly one of those that will be developed in the coming years.