Spain celebrates Bioenergy Day 30 on Saturday, November 2024. A symbolic date from which, and until the end of the year, bioenergy could cover all the country's energy needs, including electricity, heat and transport.
Biomass heating and cooling networks connect homes, public buildings, hospitals and industries under a common energy system that harnesses sustainable local resources, perfectly embodying the spirit of the slogan chosen by Bioenergy Europe for the European Bioenergy Day 2024 campaign: “Our shared steps towards the energy transition.”
For this reason, la Spanish Biomass Association (AVEBIOM has decided to commemorate the date by highlighting the essential role of biomass heating and cooling networks in the decarbonisation of cities and towns, the reduction of energy dependence and the protection of the country's natural resources.
“Biomass heating networks are a real bridge between the rural and urban worlds. The sustainable management of forest and agricultural biomass helps prevent forest fires, generate employment and stimulate local economies. When these resources are transformed into renewable energy to heat homes and buildings in our cities, we are moving forward together and more efficiently towards the cleaner and more sustainable energy model that we all want,” says Javier Diaz, president of AVEBIOM.
The positive impact of biomass heating networks is increasing every year in Spain, with 523 networks operating in the country, according to data collected by the Biomass Observatory for 2023, a cumulative capacity of 491,54 MW and more than 820.000 MWh of thermal energy delivered to consumers.
These biomass networks avoid the emission of approximately 180.000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, by replacing the consumption of around 80.000 tonnes of oil equivalent with just over 200.000 tonnes of wood chips, olive stones and pellets of sustainable origin.
The AVEBIOM biomass observatory began collecting data in 2010, when the country had only 71 biomass heating and cooling networks, with a total capacity of 48,26 MW. Since then, the expansion of these infrastructures has been constant, with an average annual growth rate of 5,9% in the number of networks and 11,6% in installed capacity.
With each new biomass heating network, we take a firm step towards a cleaner, more accessible and fair energy future for all..
https://europeanbioenergyday.eu/success-stories-2024-europe/