Moeve and ENSO have reached a collaboration agreement to develop industrial decarbonization projects through the use of biomass and renewable gases as alternatives to fossil fuels. The alliance will particularly focus on facilities with high energy demand, where the replacement of conventional thermal generation systems presents greater technical and economic challenges.
The agreement includes the transformation of industrial facilities that currently use cogeneration systems powered by natural gas, coal, and other fossil fuels, with the goal of incorporating energy solutions based on biomass. This collaboration is primarily aimed at sectors such as the chemical, paper, cardboard, and agri-food industries, whose production processes require a continuous supply of steam and thermal energy.
The initiative combines ENSO's experience in the development, financing, construction, and operation of bioenergy infrastructures with Moeve's capabilities in energy supply and the marketing of fuels and renewable gases. Both companies propose a joint offering to tackle energy transformation projects tailored to the characteristics of each industrial facility.
One of the main areas of collaboration will be the gradual replacement of conventional fuels with biomass in heat and electricity generation processes. This alternative is aimed at facilities where the electrification of thermal processes is not technically viable or poses difficulties in meeting production needs.
The agreement also includes the development of renewable gases through different technological pathways. Among them is the conversion of existing biogas plants to produce biomethane, as well as the study of synthetic fuel projects, known as e-fuels, from the utilization of biogenic carbon dioxide generated in bioenergy facilities.
In this last area, the collaboration includes the capture and valorization of CO₂ from the use of biomass, which could be used as raw material in new processes for producing renewable fuels. Moeve could participate as a future buyer of the produced molecules, while ENSO would contribute its capabilities in renewable energy generation and biogenic carbon capture.
ENSO has experience in this field through its bioelectric plant in Garray, Soria, identified by the company as the first Spanish bioelectric facility to incorporate a CO₂ capture and valorization system sourced completely from renewables for food use. This experience constitutes one of the technological precedents that both companies can utilize in the study of new industrial applications.
The collaboration will also be developed through Moeve decarbonize, the commercial proposal from Moeve aimed at industrial clients and other companies, which incorporates solutions related to energy supply, heat, electricity, and renewable gases. With ENSO's participation, this offering expands its scope to bioenergy projects and renewable thermal generation.
The CEO of ENSO, Elías Hernández, explained that the collaboration seeks to provide industries with energy solutions that allow for emission reductions and improve their operational costs. According to him, ENSO's capability to finance, construct, and operate large bioenergy facilities will combine with Moeve's commercial reach and capabilities to develop projects aimed at industrial clients.
For his part, Carlos Aguilera, head of commercial development at Moeve decarbonize, stated that the agreement will allow for a wider range of energy solutions to be offered through the combination of heat, electricity, and renewable gases. This offering will be particularly aimed at energy-intensive industrial processes where electrification does not always constitute a viable alternative.
Another of the aspects contemplated in the alliance is the financing of the necessary actions to transform industrial energy systems. The companies will study formulas that allow for large-scale investments, including possible co-investment structures in energy assets, with the purpose of facilitating the execution of projects without the client companies having to fully assume their financing.
The agreement occurs in a context of renewal in the cogeneration sector in Spain, in light of the upcoming auctions planned for this technology. Both companies believe that this process can facilitate the modernization of existing industrial facilities and the incorporation of generation systems with lower carbon emissions.
ENSO has over 25 years of experience in the bioenergy sector and operates in various phases of the biomass value chain. According to data provided by the company, throughout its operations, it has managed the transformation of more than 1.5 million tons per year of biomass into renewable energy and has participated in the development of over 400 megawatts of electrical capacity.
Since late 2024, ENSO has been part of the Igneo Infrastructure Partners portfolio, a firm specialized in infrastructure investments. Meanwhile, Moeve, formerly Cepsa, is developing its energy transformation strategy called Positive Motion, which includes, among other activities, the production of renewable hydrogen, second-generation biofuels, and sustainable chemical products.
