14 Decarbonisation Projects awarded €96.3M in Catalonia
In the framework of the Next Generation Funds, at the end of 2022, the Council of Ministers approved the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) for industrial decarbonisation, fulfilling a commitment to support the industry in its transition towards more environmentally friendly models and processes and contributing to the goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
The financing linked to this PERTE is 2,300 million euros, of which 800 million will be in the form of a subsidy and 1,500 million will be in the form of a loan, to be executed from 2023 onwards.
The PERTE funding scheme, is based on four transformative measures.
- Comprehensive decarbonization support: This includes aid for the electrification of processes, the incorporation of hydrogen, comprehensive energy management, reduction in the use of natural resources, and carbon capture.
- Support for manufacturing companies in the renewable hydrogen industrial chain: Specific support for companies participating in the IPCEI on renewable hydrogen.
- Carbon Contracts for Difference support fund: Study and evaluation to develop a fund that helps stabilize carbon prices and promote pilot projects.
- Support for new decarbonized manufacturing facilities: Aid for the creation of new industrial facilities that use advanced decarbonization technologies.
These measures aim to drive the transition towards a more sustainable economy and reduce carbon emissions in the industrial sector.
In addition to the four transformative measures mentioned above, which constitute the core of the PERTE, there are facilitating measures including regulatory measures, training measures, promotion of R&D&I, among others.
The beneficiaries include manufacturing sectors like non-metallic minerals, chemicals, oil refining, metallurgy, and paper. Large combustion installations, especially in food and beverage, are also included.
In October 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism has approved 14 new provisional rulings for industrial decarbonisation for a total of 96.3 million euros, which will result in a reduction of more than 1.2 million tons of CO2 per year (it represents 0.0032% of global annual CO2 emissions). There are projects funded from 0’5M€ to 30M€.The region with more funding is Andalusia (South of Spain) with 30M€.
Of the 96.3 million euros, Catalonia secured 28.75% and it is distributed as follows:
- Cementos Portland Valderribas: 8.86 million for the Santa Margarida i els Monjos factory (Barcelona).
- CASTELLAR VIDRIO SA : 6.31 million for its new strategy in Castellar del Vallés (Barcelona).
- ALIER: 4.38 million for a project in Roselló (Lleida).
Ercros: 533 thousand euros for its factory in Vila-Seca (Tarragona). - ACIN Recycling Metals Costa Brava Comprehensive Activities: 7.60 million for a production plant in Arbúcies (Girona).
The rest of the budget, for Spain, is distributed as follows:
- AG Siderúrgica Balboa receives 2.43 million for a project in Badajoz.
- Stellantis Spain: 13.88 million for its plant in Figueruelas (Zaragoza).
- Crisnova Glass: 10.43 million in Caudete (Albacete).
- Fertiberia: 2.97 million for its Puertollano plant project (Ciuda Real).
- The group formed by Corporación Alimentaria Peñasanta and Ence Energía Extremadura: 2.52 million for its facilities in Siero (Asturias).
- Cunext Copper Industries: 30 million for the production of green copper at its Córdoba plant.
- Holcim Spain, 2.71 million for the Carboneras factory (Almería).
- Cerámica Peño: 635 thousand euros at its plant in Talavera de la Reina (Toledo).
- The group formed by Jumos Valencianos del Mediterráneo and Naturgy Iberia has received 3.04 million for its plant in Sagunto (Valencia).
With this new resolution, companies are still being incentivized to invest in sustainable solutions with the aim of meeting climate commitments while creating new business opportunities in green sectors.