The new development allows for the recovery of up to 40 GWh annually of thermal energy generated at Michelin during the tire manufacturing process. This heat, which until now was dissipated using cooling towers, is captured by high-temperature heat pumps that raise the energy of the industrial water to usable levels—between 70 and 85 °C—and inject it directly into the heating and domestic hot water network of Aranda de Duero.
The system can operate in parallel or as an alternative to cooling towers, depending on the time of year and thermal demand, and will allow the replacement of 33 GWh of those generated so far with conventional methods, significantly reducing water consumption.
A 3 MW photovoltaic installation located in the canopies of the Michelin parking lot powers the heat pumps and, when there is a surplus, the electricity can be used by the plant itself.
The recovered heat is integrated into the urban biomass network that Rebi has operated in Aranda for several years, supplying heating and hot water to more than 8,000 homes, schools, sports facilities, and senior centers. The network has an installed capacity of 12 MW, a 4,500 m³ buffer tank to adapt supply to demand, and distributes more than 55 GWh of thermal energy annually, preventing the emission of approximately 14,000 tons of CO₂.
Collaborating since 2019
The collaboration with Michelin is not new. Since 2019, Rebi has been utilizing some of the excess heat from the cogeneration plant adjacent to the facility. This new initiative reinforces a unique hybrid model in Spain that combines biomass, industrial waste heat, and photovoltaic solar energy. This hybridization improves the overall efficiency of the system, reduces operating costs, and expands the city's energy resilience, in addition to improving air quality in the urban environment and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
For Michelin, this represents a direct improvement in the efficiency of its production process, as well as a step forward in fulfilling its international commitments on sustainability.
For Rebi, it represents a strategic innovation that demonstrates how it is possible to supply renewable heat without the need to consume new raw materials, taking advantage of the energy that already exists in the territory.
This is a replicable example for other municipalities and industrial sectors, in line with a just, efficient energy transition based on local resources. Michelin and Rebi have demonstrated that it is possible to connect industry and cities in a collaborative model that benefits everyone.
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Carlos Abril Barber, Plant Manager of Michelin Aranda, Antonio Linaje Niño, Mayor of Aranda de Duero, and Alberto Gómez, Chief Executive of REBI, and