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.