Solvay is taking another decisive step to phase out coal at its soda ash and bicarbonate plants with a new energy transition project in Torrelavega, Spain.
Solvay is taking another decisive step to phase out coal at its soda ash and bicarbonate plants with a new energy transition project in Torrelavega, Spain, aiming to nearly halve CO2 emissions by 2027 and ensure the site’s long-term competitiveness. The Group secured a long-term energy supply agreement with Enso, which will invest in, construct, and operate a biomass cogeneration unit for the production of clean and competitive energy. This major biomass project will replace 70 % of the plant’s coal usage.
The new biomass cogeneration unit will be Spain’s largest, repurposing byproducts from sawmills, forest maintenance, and wood supply for the pulp and paper industries. All materials will be certified and sustainably and locally sourced within 100 km of the site. This initiative marks a major milestone in transitioning the plant from thermal coal power to sustainable energy, supporting Solvay's actions towards carbon neutrality. It builds on the successful energy transitions of Solvay's facilities in Rheinberg, Germany, and Green River, U.S., among others.
“With over 116 years operating in Spain, we are proud to transition the plant into a new era, marking a significant chapter in its history. This milestone is a giant leap in reducing our carbon footprint and delivering the most sustainable products to our customers,” said Etienne Galan, Solvay’s President for the Soda Ash & Derivatives business. “Our broader plans for Torrelavega include offering our customers in Spain soda ash and bicarbonate with the lowest carbon footprint in the market. This project reaffirms our commitment to sustainable and competitive local production, ensuring long-term viability and success.”
"I am pleased that, through such an innovative instrument as the Energy Saving Certificates Scheme (CAE's), we have supported a key industry for the country and for Cantabria. Solvay Torrelavega is committed to sustainability and efficiency, an ambitious project that, thanks to this instrument, has the support of the Government of Spain”, added Sara Aagessen, Spain’s Minister for Ecological Transition.
The President of the Cantabria Region, María José Sáenz de Buruaga, expressed her enthusiasm about the project: “Today is a very important day for Cantabria and the Besaya Region. Our collaborative efforts with Solvay over the past months have culminated in the successful approval of a major project. Just over a month ago, we declared Solvay's biomass cogeneration as a strategic initiative, enabling access to financing through the Energy Saving Certificates Scheme. And now, we can proudly announce that Cantabria will host the largest biomass cogeneration plant in Spain, securing the future of the Torrelavega plant."
The Torrelavega plant, one of Solvay's seven soda ash facilities worldwide, is a key supplier to essential industries, providing soda ash to manufacture glass, solar panels, lithium carbonate used in EV batteries and detergents, as well as bicarbonate used in a wide range of applications including food, feed, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and air pollution control. It employs more than 700 direct and indirect jobs, and represents around 2.5 % of the Cantabria region’s GDP.
