Segovia's commitment to an energy model based on forest biomass is gaining momentum. The Regional Government of Castile and León has put out to tender the construction of the first 15 kilometers of pipelines for the city's future district heating network, with a budget of €7,7 million and a 14-month construction period. This project is complemented by the tender for the thermal power plant, budgeted at around €18,3 million and expected to take 22 months to complete. In total, both projects will mobilize €26 million to launch an infrastructure that will progressively replace individual gas or oil boilers.
The complete project, which also includes a second phase of pipelines costing an additional €6 million, will represent a total investment of €32 million . Once finished, approximately 26 kilometers of buried pipes will be deployed to supply heating and hot water to 7.000 homes and 40 commercial buildings in the capital. The system will operate using a sustainably sourced forest biomass plant, an alternative intended to lower energy bills and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The bidding process for the pipelines and the power plant is underway.
The regional government, through the Public Infrastructure and Environment Company (Somacyl), has put the canalization works out to tender. Earthmoving work will begin in the San Millán neighborhood, next to Calle 3 de Abril, and will extend the network through different areas of the city, such as the area around the Hospital, La Piedad, Las Lastras, Santo Tomás, and the train station. The route will be designed to allow for continuity in subsequent phases. A backup power line will also be included, running parallel to the main line to minimize disruption.
The Minister of the Environment and Energy, María González Corral, has repeatedly argued that this project will create an alternative energy source using renewable and locally sourced resources , such as forest biomass. According to her figures, upon completion, the plant will reduce the CO₂ footprint and improve the stability of the energy supply, as well as lower the maintenance costs currently paid by users.
Route of the first pipelines and technical data
The pipes for the first phase will follow a defined route: starting in San Millán and extending towards the city's exit, to the junction with the Camino Real de Ávila. On the inbound side, the route will continue along the Paseo de Ezequiel González and the Paseo de Conde de Sepúlveda, where it will split into branches. One of these branches will run down José Zorrilla, preparing for the future connection, while another will continue towards Avenida Obispo Quesada and the Villacastín road. With this network, approximately 3.600 homes will be served in the first phase, with the possibility of connecting for other commercial uses.
The power plant, to be located next to the Segovia Healthcare Complex, will be equipped with three state-of-the-art biomass boilers with a combined nominal thermal output of 28,4 MW. Approximately 30.000 tons of sustainably sourced wood chips will be consumed annually to generate up to 75 million kWh of thermal energy per year. The boilers will operate using biomass from plant waste, and the facility is also expected to include a photovoltaic plant and energy storage systems.
Environmental and economic impact of the district heating network
With the implementation of the district heating network, Segovia will stop emitting approximately 19.600 tons of CO₂ annually , currently produced by individual heating systems . Furthermore, centralized generation will allow for savings on heating and hot water bills, as buildings will be able to eliminate their individual boilers and simplify their maintenance. Energy management will be more stable and efficient, improving the energy rating of connected properties.
The project also has a territorial impact: the use of wood chips from forests in Castile and León boosts the economy of rural areas and promotes more active forest management. This was explained by the regional minister, who emphasized that "the project aims to ensure that the energy transition has a direct impact on users" and will seek to lower energy bills and increase efficiency.
Castilla y León expands the district heating network model
Segovia is not starting from scratch, as the region already has 19 biomass-based district heating networks, totaling 99 MW of renewable energy capacity and 92 kilometers of pipelines. To date, these installations have generated €86,5 million in investment and supply energy to 4.517 homes, 147 commercial buildings, and nine industrial users. The regional government, through Somacyl, plans to invest nearly €135 million in new projects to reach 230 MW of capacity and 182 km of pipelines by 2030, including those in León, Salamanca, Aguilar de Campoo, and Segovia itself.
The Segovia network has also been designed to expand with a second central station in a second phase, still being drafted, which will eventually reach all neighborhoods in the city. Mayor José Mazarías emphasized that the project utilizes a local forest resource, “not only as an alternative but also as part of a long-term sustainability strategy .”
With these works, Segovia becomes a practical example of how the heating supply of an urban center can be modernized using a local, renewable energy source. The plan is for work to begin on the power plant in December and on the pipelines between January and February, although the timeline will be affected by any objections that may arise from the public consultation process. The urban planning and environmental permits for the power plant have already been approved, after the technical file was reviewed to ensure truck access, landscape integration, and the safety of the pipeline route.
In the long term, the district heating network will allow for a substantial reduction in the city's dependence on fossil fuels and a more predictable and affordable energy model for households. The combination of investment and planning across Castile and León demonstrates that promoting forest biomass can be a real tool for the economic use of natural resources and climate protection. The second phase is currently being drafted and is expected to reach the entire urban area in the coming years.
