Spain already has 433 biomass heat networks

The progression of the implementation of biomass heat networks in our country is clearly positive ; Since 2010, when the newly created Biomass Observatory inventoried the first 30, the number of facilities has multiplied almost 15 to 433 located at the end of 2020, and to which fifty must be added in different stages of development.

Furthermore, three quarters of all existing heat networks in the country run on biomass instead of using fossil fuels , which is good support for the energy transition underway.

According to Javier Díaz, president of Avebiom, “ although it is a progression that does not stagnate, it is slower than what would be expected if we compare ourselves with other EU countries .” A greater commitment is necessary from administrations at all levels, from town councils to the State, since biomass heat networks can play a fundamental role in the decarbonization of the thermal energy supply in the residential, services and industrial sectors of Spain." .

Avebiom has recently presented to the Government of Spain an ambitious project to promote the implementation of 100 new biomass heat networks in municipalities with less than 5,000 inhabitants.

Report on biomass heat networks 2020

Catalonia and Castilla y León are in the lead , both in number of networks and installed power, although in the first there is a greater public vocation and in the second more installations in the private residential sphere.

The majority of biomass heat networks are located in rural areas, although the most powerful ones are found in cities with between 50,000 and 300,000 inhabitants.

• 64.3% of the networks are located in towns with less than 5,000 inhabitants
• 13% of the installations are in large towns, but they accumulate 44% of the total power

In 2021, three heat networks in cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants could begin to provide service: Pamplona (Barrio de Txantrea); Vitoria/Gasteiz (Coronation Neighborhood); and Pontevedra (University of Vigo).

Depending on the thermal demand served by the networks, and setting the value of 1 GWh/year as a reference, in Spain there are 55 networks and 378 microgrids.

Most networks consume forest chips, although smaller networks, with power less than 1 MW, can also use pellets. The use of other biofuels, such as bone or biogas, is testimonial at the moment.

According to the use of the connected buildings, it is seen that 75% of the inventoried networks supply energy to some building for public use , such as indoor swimming pools, nursing homes, educational centers, administrative buildings or cultural centers. In many cases, incorporating these buildings with a significant annual thermal demand facilitates the viability of the overall project.

22% of the inventoried networks supply energy to private buildings , mainly homes, and also to hospitality facilities or private sports centers. Half of the private networks connect blocks of flats, most in neighborhoods that are more than 40 years old and that already had central heating, rehabilitated with a new, more efficient biomass boiler room.

Regarding the connection of industries to biomass heat networks, to date, the Observatory has inventoried only 4 networks in industrial estates to supply more than one user.

An unbeatable solution for the energy transition

Biomass heat networks are an unbeatable solution to fight climate change , thanks to their ability to reduce emissions in urban areas and also to combat energy poverty.

Replacing hundreds of independent fossil fuel boiler chimneys, many of them obsolete or poorly maintained, with a biomass heat network that has a modern boiler room equipped with cutting-edge technology and professionally managed allows strict emissions control and that the installation as a whole is more efficient, profitable and environmentally sustainable.