Kao and Engie will develop a new biomass plant in Barcelona

Engie Spain and Kao Corporation have signed an agreement for the construction, financing, commissioning, operation, and maintenance for 15 years of a new biomass-fired thermal power plant using certified forest waste , ensuring sustainable forest management, at the chemical company's plant in Olesa de Montserrat, Barcelona. This new facility will allow for a 95% reduction in the factory's natural gas consumption , and therefore a significant decrease in its direct carbon emissions footprint.

The new biomass plant will be used for self-consumption and as a thermal energy generation system. Its primary energy source, forestry waste, is 100% renewable and CO2-neutral . This technology will replace several conventional boilers, whose primary energy source is natural gas.

To achieve its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, Kao is undertaking a series of mitigation projects as part of its roadmap . The new thermal power plant represents a significant step towards fulfilling this commitment.

The future biomass plant will also generate a positive impact on the local environment by promoting sustainable forest management , including fire prevention and improvement of forest health, contributing to local social and economic development and reducing dependence on external energy, as it is a local and locally sourced fuel.

ENGIE will be responsible for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and financing of the project, formalized in a long-term contract, to supply renewable energy to KAO Corporation SAU. ENGIE will supply 95% of the client's steam demand through the deployment of a biomass boiler.