The 12.000 homes in the Madrid town of Alcalá de Henares will be able to benefit from the renewable energy project called Alcalá District Heating, a pioneering initiative that will use a combination of Concentrated solar energy and biomass to provide heat to homes and businesses.
This type of heat network projects, also known as district heating, are becoming more and more common in Europe. However, Alcalá de Henares stands out for being one of the first Spanish cities to opt for such an advanced system based on clean energies.
How will Alcalá District Heating work?
The heat network of the Alcalá Distric Heating project will operate through a urban heat distribution system, where energy will be generated at a central plant and distributed through a network of underground pipelines. This system will use two main sources of energy:
- Concentrated solar energy: This type of energy uses the sun's heat to generate high temperatures, which are then used to produce steam and generate thermal energy.
- Biomass: As a support source, the system will also use biomass, a renewable source obtained from organic matter such as agricultural or forestry waste.
Thanks to this combination, The network will not only be more sustainable, but it will also reduce dependence on fossil fuels. On the other hand, it is expected to have a direct impact on reducing energy bills for the residents of Alcalá de Henares, decreasing up to 30% compared to traditional systems.
Environmental benefits of implementation
The launch of Alcalá District Heating will not only benefit homes, but also the the environment. According to initial estimates, the project will reduce up to 40 thousand tons of CO2 emissions annually, which represents a significant contribution in the fight against climate change.
Mayor Javier Rodríguez Palacios stressed that investing in this technology is not only a victory for the environment, but it is economically viableIn his statements he indicated:
"The project is based on a powerful, sustainable and economical technology. We are delighted to sign this agreement to demonstrate that sustainability does not have to be more expensive."
As a complement to the economic advantages, the first deputy mayor, Olga García, also stressed how this type of project allows cities moving towards a cleaner energy model, and improve air quality:
"We are making a change in our energy model. The implementation of these systems that use renewable energy could reduce up to 40 thousand tons of CO2 per year, which would improve the air quality in our city."
What's next for Alcalá Distric Heating?
Despite the signing of the agreement, the project is still in the planning phase, and its completion is expected set up occur in the medium term. The company responsible for the project has undertaken to inform the Neighbor communities and local businesses on how they can benefit from the heat network and how the connection process will work.
In this sense, it is expected that the project will serve as an example to follow for other Spanish cities interested in adopting more sustainable energy systems, and contribute to the climate goals established by the country and by the European Union.
Alcalá de Henares thus places itself at the forefront of the energy transition, betting on a combination of solar energy and biomass, and leading a project that will not only provide heat to thousands of homes, but will also significantly reduce polluting emissions in the city.