Spanish pulp producer Ence has inaugurated three projects at its Navia bioplant in Asturias worth more than €200 million, including a biomass-fired lime kiln conversion and a new wood processing line that will increase the availability of bark for use as biofuel.
The lime kiln project will see fossil fuels replaced with biomass through the installation of new multi-fuel burners, with the aim of fully decarbonising the Navia site. Ence said the switch is expected to cut CO2 emissions by more than 40,000 tonnes per year.
A new wood processing line, replacing one of the existing lines at the plant's wood yard, will also boost the facility's biomass supply. The line, which includes two debarkers and a chipper capable of processing 5,400 cubic metres of wood per day, increases the volume of bark generated from the company's own operations for combustion in its biomass boiler. Ence said the upgrade reduces its reliance on externally sourced biomass and strengthens the plant's circular economy model.
Together, the wood processing and lime kiln projects represent an investment of €48 million. Of that total, €13 million has been financed through the energy efficiency programme of Spain's Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE).
The largest single investment at the site, worth more than €160 million, is a new fluff pulp production line for the European absorbent products market. Ence said the Navia facility is the first and only plant in Europe to produce fluff pulp from eucalyptus, and that qualification processes are under way with more than 70 international customers.
A separate €12 million moulded pulp project, intended to replace plastic packaging in the food sector, is also progressing on schedule.
