- The transfer of the equipment from Cubillos del Sil to Ponferrada, completed today, was a complex operation because the elements donated weighed 120 tons so it required specialised personnel.
- The donation will contribute to the memory of the Compostilla plant being able to survive since it will be on display in the installations managed by the Ciuden Foundation.
Endesa has donated three large rotors from the Compostilla plant to the National Energy Museum, where they will be exhibited soon after they have been transferred from the thermal plant to the headquarters of the above-mentioned institution in Ponferradina. It was a complex manoeuvre because of the size of the pieces and their weight which exceeded 120 tons, so a team of experts intervened using special machinery for these manoeuvres.
Endesa is in the process of dismantling its installations in Cubillos del Sil, which have been officially out of service since June 2020. The demolition will generate more than 266,000 tons of waste, 90% of which will be recovered under the principles of the circular economy.
Before the dismantling began, the company conducted a study to determine which plant equipment could have a new life in production processes, and which could be donated to different public entities to be used or incorporated into museum collections. 74 items were categorised to be donated to non-profit organisations, a measure that is a feature of the company's social responsibility plans.
The equipment that was removed today consists of two low-pressure turbine rotors, and another high-pressure rotor, weighing 59 and 34 tons respectively, and another high-pressure rotor, weighing 29 tons. To remove them from their original location they need to knock down a wall. Using high-capacity cranes, the rotors were mounted on trestles so they could be loaded onto large gondolas and transferred to the Energy Museum.
This donation from Endesa will enable the memory of the Compostilla plant to live on in the memory of the people of El Bierzo, since very significant elements of the equipment from the thermal plant will be on display in the installations managed by the Ciuden Foundation. Other elements contributed by the company are also on display in this museum.
Endesa has identified eight local entities of public interest to receive donations. These are the above-mentioned Ciuden Foundation, the Town Hall of Ponferrada, de la Ministry of the Environment in Castille-León, the University of León, the Santa Bárbara Foundation, the Hospital in Bierzo, Fuentes Nuevas Training Centre and the Berciana Agricultural Association.
In addition to the large machinery that will be exhibited at the Energy Museum, others have already taken on a new life in training centres, where students handle them in practical classes; There are also assets of cultural interest, such as paintings and sculptures.
Of the 266,000 tons of waste generated by the demolition of the installation, 90% is being recovered by applying circular economy criteria. Waste concrete will be processed in situ so it can be used in the tasks of adapting land where new industries will be built to replace the plant. The metal structures that are being removed from the site will also be recycled, and there will also be waste that will end up in special landfills.
Endesa is also developing a Futur-e Plan to contribute to social-economic recovery in the region. This program includes the construction in the area of wind and photovoltaic installations, the creation of recycling plants for electric vehicle batteries and wind blades, a hydrogen plant and a glass blast furnace promoted by Tvitec. An international consultancy contracted by Endesa is currently searching for new projects to be implemented in El Bierzo.
About Endesa
Endesa is the largest electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. The company is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. Endesa operates an end-to-end generation, distribution and marketing business. Through Endesa X, it also offers value-added services aimed at the electrification of energy usage in homes, companies, industries and Public Administrations. A new business line has also been created, Endesa X Way, fully dedicated to electric mobility. Endesa is firmly committed to the United Nations SDGs and strongly supports the development of renewable energies through Enel Green Power España, the digitalisation of grids through e-distribución, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR. Our workforce numbers around 9,260 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, the largest electricity group in Europe.