The new logistic center of biomass with splinter of "kilometer zero" in the Vallès (Barcelona) opens

Biomass Logistics Center with "kilometer zero" sliver in the Vallès

New Regional Biomass Logistics Center, a key part of the Bosques del Vallès fire prevention project based on the boosting of forest biomass. The Logistics Center of Biomass is the center of operations of the Regional Service of Forest Biomass and it allows to close the circle of the project of forest exploitation for the obtaining of spill that feeds the boilers of biomass of the region. Thus, a key equipment for obtaining clean energy and proximity and to ensure forest management that reduces the risk of fire.

The Logistics Center is one of the three legs of the project Bosques del Vallès at the equipment level. At full capacity, it can mobilize up to 9.500 tons of wood, which represents 25% of the annual vegetative growth of the pine area in the region. The center has a chip production capacity of 6.650 tons per year. It has had an investment of 500.000 euros, has been located on a plot of 8.430 m2 and has a warehouse of 846 m2.

The other two infrastructures are two biomass boilers from the UAB's Physical Activity Service and the Terrassa Health Consortium. The annual chip consumption of the UAB and the CST represents 45% of the capacity of the Logistics Center. The Terrassa hospital generates the energy that serves the sanitary equipment and that would be equivalent to feeding 735 homes. The Terrassa City Council, through its Agència Local d'Energia i Canvi Climàtic, already received from the hands of AVEBIOM in 2010 the “FOMENTA LA BIOENERGIA” Award for its municipal environmental policy in favor of the rationalization of the use of energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with biomass. Until now, the municipalities of Ullastrell, Vacarisses and Viladecavalls have also joined the service to supply their boilers.  

The objective of the project is twofold:

  • promote the use of forest biomass to reduce the risk of fires, with generation of heat energy to cover different facilities in the region with a socially responsible energy and creating jobs and productive fabric.
  • work to increase the sustainable forest management of the largest number of farms and the maximum number of hectares possible for the good condition of the forest masses (increase in resilience to disturbances, preservation of biodiversity, etc.)

The Vallès Occidental, a vulnerable territory

The Vallès Occidental is an essentially urban area with a high population density, higher than the 900.000 inhabitants, which has an important industrial fabric, but also with a high percentage of forest area (59'1%), of which the 90 % of which are privately owned (more than 3.600 owners), constitute an area with little management, which has a relatively low productivity and is quite vulnerable to climate change and forest fires.

On the other hand, the region promotes sustainable energy and contributes in the fight against climate change and in favor of air quality. It is estimated that the emission savings of C02 could reach more than 5.400 tons per year.

More info: http://www.ccvoc.cat/actualitat/noticies/2018/07/11/el-valles-occidental-obre-el-centre-de-biomassa-comarcal-que-abasteix-les-calderes-de-biomassa-la-comarca-amb-estella-de-quilometre-zero