Spanish politician Greene secures 224 million euros in funding from the European Investment Bank and Santander to construct five waste recovery facilities across Spain.
The Valogreene project, a €224 million waste-to-resource initiative by Greene Enterprise, is set to revolutionise Spain's waste management landscape. The project, co-financed equally by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Santander, aims to build five advanced industrial plants across key Spanish regions.
Each of these plants, equipped with patented pyrolysis technology, will break down organic waste without oxygen, minimising CO₂ emissions, and converting waste into reusable industrial products like pyrolytic oil and char. The combined nominal treatment capacity of these plants will exceed 200,000 tonnes per year of non-recyclable industrial and urban solid waste, biomass, and sewage sludge.
The strategic locations of the five plants—in Muel (Zaragoza), La Selva del Camp (Tarragona), San Cristóbal de Entrevinas (Zamora), Madridejos (Toledo), and As Somozas (A Coruña)—are designed to maximise impact and foster local industrial ecosystems.
The Valogreene plants are expected to make a significant contribution to Spain's transition to a circular economy by diverting waste from landfills and incineration, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving resource efficiency with the production of secondary raw materials.
Moreover, the project supports the EU's goals of regional cohesion, sustainable industrial innovation, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The Valogreene plants in Madridejos (Toledo) and As Somozas (A Coruña) have already been designated as priority interest projects by their respective regional governments.
The project is set to create employment opportunities in regional areas, with each plant projected to create more than 20 direct jobs and 40 indirect jobs. This investment not only promotes greener, sustainable industrial practices but also boosts the local economy in the towns where the plants are located.
By 2029, all five Valogreene plants are expected to be operational, marking a significant step forward in Spain’s environmental and industrial policies. The project introduces innovative technology to tackle hard-to-recycle waste streams and helps achieve climate goals, making it a major milestone in Spain's journey towards a sustainable future.
[1] Greene Enterprise. (2023). Valogreene Project. Retrieved from https://www.greene-enterprise.com/valogreene-project
[2] European Investment Bank. (2023). Valogreene Project. Retrieved from https://www.eib.org/en/projects/valogreene-project
[3] Santander. (2023). Valogreene Project. Retrieved from https://www.santander.com/es/empresa/valor-social/valogreene-project
[4] European Commission. (2023). Valogreene Project. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/banking-and-finance/structural-funds/projects/2021-2027/valogreene-project_es
[5] European Investment Bank. (2023). Financing for Valogreene Project. Retrieved from https://www.eib.org/en/press/news/2023/01/eib-finances-224-million-waste-to-resource-project-in-spain.htm
- The Valogreene project, a €224 million initiative, aligns with Spain's transition to a circular economy by promoting science, environmental-science, and sustainable industrial innovation, as outlined in the European Commission's goals.
- The construction and operation of the Valogreene plants, co-financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), Santander, and Greene Enterprise, are anticipated to have a positive impact on climate-change mitigation, as these plants will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster resource efficiency.
- The successful implementation of the Valogreene project will not only contribute to the finance sector by generating employment opportunities and boosting local economies in key Spanish regions, but also help Spain achieve its climate-change and environmental objectives, thereby progressing towards a sustainable future.
