The district of Vallès Occidental has inaugurated a biomass logistics centre to produce “Zero kilometre” wood chips sourced from sustainable forest use and related to the prevention of fires.
In summer 2018, the Comarca del Vallès Occidental biomass logistics centre started to operate, a key part in the Bosques del Vallès project promoted by the Forest Biomass District Public Service for the prevention of fires and the improvement of the condition of the woodlands.
The logistics centre is located in Terrassa, Barcelona, and is to market wood chips to feed the biomass boilers in the district. Its aim is to obtain clean energy from a nearby source and to guarantee forest management that reduces the risk of fire.
The biomass logistics centre will boost the certified quality local wood chip market in the district of Vallés and will guarantee the stability of supply to the two facilities in the project: the boilers at the Terrassa Hospital and the boiler at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. It involved an investment of 500,000 euros and has generated one full-time job and another part time one.
Bosques del Vallés woodlands, an innovative project
The groundbreaking “Bosques del Vallès project in Catalunya will initially offer two benefits: the supply of thermal energy and the supply of wood chips.
One of its objectives consists in promoting the use of forest biomass to reduce the risk of fires, to generated responsible energy and to create jobs. Likewise, the project aims to increase sustainable forest management to the greatest number of plots and hectares possible, in order to ensure the good condition of the forest land.
The project is using public funds to support the installation of biomass boilers and is funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Diputación de Barcelona.
Source: Bioenergy International
