The Regional Government, through SOMACYL and with the support of the Just Transition Fund, is promoting the construction of infrastructure in León and Palencia with the aim of mobilizing biomass where forest fuel is currently stored, sustaining employment in rural areas and supplying nearby thermal consumption with renewable energy.
These centers act as a enabling infrastructure between the forest and the end consumers. They allow receiving biomass in different formats, carrying out chipping, screening or drying operations, guaranteeing a homogeneous fuel quality and ensuring a regular supply to heating networks, public buildings or nearby industrial facilities.
Without logistics, the "available" biomass in the forest is not transformed into usable biomass on a territorial scale., And these centers make it possible to bridge that gap between forest resources and actual energy use.
Castrocontrigo (León): a hub for León and Zamora
The biomass logistics center in Castrocontrigo, in the La Bañeza forest region, has a total investment of 1.67 million euros, It is co-financed 70% by the Just Transition Fund and 30% by the Regional Government of Castile and León. It is designed to manage at least 20,000 tons per year, with a range of approximately 35 kilometers and an area of influence close to the 385,000 hectares of forest, which includes municipalities in León and Zamora.
The facility is designed to process biomass from forestry treatments and primarily supply, Biomass-fueled heating networks in the province of León, reinforcing a local energy model that reduces logistics costs, dependence on fossil fuels and emissions associated with transport.
Alar del Rey (Palencia): logistics for northern Palencia and Burgos
In Palencia, the Alar del Rey logistics center represents an investment of 873,348 euros and will serve the forest region of Ojeda and Boedo, as well as areas in northern Palencia and Burgos. Its area of influence extends beyond 500,000 hectares of forest, with a similar planned capacity, around 20,000 tons per year.
The project includes a warehouse, storage areas, weighing and security systems, and equipment for biomass processing. The aim is to... regulate supply, facilitate forest management, and ensure quality fuel for nearby thermal uses, especially in public buildings and heating networks.
Villablino–Orallo (León): local energy in the key of a just transition
These projects are complemented by the Orallo biomass logistics center, located in the municipality of Villablino, in the Laciana region. Its development is linked to the just transition strategy in mining areas and aims to to utilize the surrounding forest resources to produce renewable energy for local consumption, generating stable economic activity linked to forest management.
A network to close the mountain-energy loop
The deployment of these centers is part of a broader strategy to create a network of regional biomass logistics centers, with a total investment of around 8 million euros in the provinces of León and Palencia. In León, in addition to Castrocontrigo, other locations such as Llamas de la Ribera are planned, reinforcing a territorial structure capable of ensuring continuity of supply.
This network allows closing the loop between active forest management, fire prevention and energy use. By guaranteeing stable delivery and exit points for biomass, the mobilization of currently underutilized resources is facilitated, the fuel load in forests is reduced, and a local value chain is strengthened that generates employment, economic activity, and renewable energy within the territory itself.
Sources
https://comunicacion.jcyl.es/web/jcyl/Comunicacion/es/Plantilla100Detalle/1284281873051/NotaPrensa/1285596723899/Comunicacion
https://comunicacion.jcyl.es/web/jcyl/Comunicacion/es/Plantilla100Detalle/1284721258244/NotaPrensa/1285597108162/Comunicacion