Ferrovial and DH Ecoenergías held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of a renewable district heating system in Zamora, Spain. The event was attended by Pablo Novo Espiñeira, Zamora city Alderman in charge of Construction, Urban Infrastructure, Mobility and Citizen Participation.
Ferrovial is to build an underground distribution network to provide heating and hot water to more than 6,400 homes using renewable energy from biomass. The 14-kilometer network will distribute heat from a thermal plant located in the vicinity. As part of the project, Ferrovial will also refurbish an existing industrial building and the system’s ancillary facilities. The network will run from the eastern part of Zamora to Tres Cruces street, without affecting the historic center.
It will not only contribute to avoiding over 11,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, but will also save users 25% on heating and hot water costs. The first phase of the project is expected to take 14 months to build, and the entire project is to be completed in four years; it will create over 125 jobs in the local community.
This initiative represents further progress by Ferrovial in its commitment to sustainable infrastructure that has a positive impact on the environment and communities. Ferrovial has built similar networks in Ávila, Madrid and San Sebastián.
Sustainable energy services
These projects, which focus on providing more sustainable energy services, are developed by the Energy Solutions area, which is part of Ferrovial’s Construction division. The company has 38 energy services contracts, including notably replacing Madrid’s streetlights, energy management of municipal buildings in Vitoria and the Santiago de Compostela hospital complex, and the Txomin Enea district heating system in San Sebastián. It currently manages over 200 GWh in total energy capacity.
With a firm commitment to sustainability and in line with its ambitious Horizon 24 business plan, which is aimed at diversifying its activities, Ferrovial created its Energy Solutions area to develop turnkey solar and wind power plants and strengthen the company’s long-standing activities in areas such as energy transmission and distribution, as well as energy services.
