Cepsa has awarded Técnicas Reunidas the contract for the detailed engineering of the largest second-generation (2G) biofuels plant in southern Europe, which Cepsa will start up together with Bio-Oils, with an investment of up to 1 billion euros, at the La Rábida Energy Park in Huelva.
The new plant, which will use agricultural waste and used cooking oils as feedstock, will have two pretreatment units and a flexible production capacity of 500,000 tons of renewable diesel and SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) for use in air, sea, and land transport.
Técnicas Reunidas will develop the facility’s engineering, procurement management, and construction management support. Specifically, the scope of the work awarded to Técnicas Reunidas includes the renewable fuels unit (RFU), the amine regeneration unit (ARU), the acid water unit (SWS), and the service generation units, the interconnections, the storage tank farm, and the ship and tanker loading and unloading facilities.
Técnicas Reunidas will assign a team of more than 180 expert professionals and will dedicate some 500,000 hours of highly qualified personnel to carry out all phases of the engineering and procurement services for equipment and materials for the project, with support for construction management at Cepsa’s request.
Emilia Arias, Technology Director of Técnicas Reunidas, emphasized that “with this contract, Técnicas Reunidas strengthens its position in the field of the circular economy. These services will contribute to the definition of this emblematic plant, with high technological content. This project is part of the strategy implemented by Técnicas Reunidas to increase the number of service contracts.”
José Manuel Martínez, Cepsa’s Technology Director, said: “We have entrusted this project to Técnicas Reunidas, experts in the engineering of large industrial projects such as the one we will undertake in Huelva, which will be the largest 2G biofuel plant in southern Europe. At this facility, which will feature the latest available technology, we will flexibly produce 500,000 tons of renewable diesel and SAF to decarbonize aviation, maritime, and land transport.”
The sustainable fuels developed in this new plant will reduce 1.5 million tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to 30% of emissions in the province of Huelva. The use of biofuels can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional fuels, making them a key element in enabling a fair energy transition and promoting the decarbonization of transportation, especially in sectors where electrification is complex, such as heavy road, air and maritime transportation.