ACCIONA Energía has begun supplying renewable energy to the grid from its new 50-megawatt (MW) biomass plant in Logrosán, Cáceres, Spain. The facility, which won a contract from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, is expected to produce 380 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually, avoiding over 187,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. This reduction is equivalent to removing 60,000 conventional cars from the road or planting 9,000 trees each year.
The plant will consume 275,000 metric tonnes of biomass annually, primarily sourced from forestry residues. This process will promote active forest management, reducing fuel loads and decreasing wildfire risk and intensity in the region. The project generated over 400 construction jobs and will maintain about 30 permanent roles for operations and maintenance. Additionally, more than 900 contractors and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from agroforestry and transport are expected to be involved across the value chain. Approximately 200 direct positions are dedicated to collecting prunings, scrubland material, and forestry residues, effectively providing the equivalent of 200 year-round “forest firefighters” focused on land management and wildfire prevention.
The Logrosán biomass project delivers broad economic benefits locally, with roughly one-third of the plant’s revenue flowing back into the region through services, hiring, and procurement. The project was awarded in the third auction under the renewable energy economic regime, which guarantees a fixed electricity sale price for 20 years.
This development underscores the growing role of biomass in Spain’s renewable energy mix and highlights the broader environmental and economic benefits of such projects. By integrating biomass energy with active forest management, ACCIONA Energía is not only contributing to Spain’s renewable energy targets but also addressing critical environmental challenges such as wildfire prevention. The project’s success could inspire similar initiatives across the sector, emphasizing the importance of integrated approaches to renewable energy and environmental stewardship.
Earlier this month, ACCIONA Energía also commenced commercial operations at its 480MWp Aldoga solar farm in Queensland, Australia, further expanding its renewable energy portfolio.