Cimpor installs a photovoltaic park in Loulé and in the other units in Portugal
Cimpor is going to install a photovoltaic park in each of the three production units in Portugal, a project that is part of an investment package that could surpass 130 million euros in 10 years.
“Cimpor will invest in the installation of a photovoltaic park in each of its three production units in Portugal (Alhandra, Souselas and Loulé)”, he indicated, in a statement, the company that produces and sells cement.
In response to Lusa, Cimpor did not reveal the value of the investment in photovoltaic parks, but added that the project is part of an investment package that could surpass 130 million euros over the next decade.
The project in question foresees the installation of one megawatt (MW) of power for self-consumption in each factory.
The installation is expected to be completed by the end of the year, and expansion to 10 MW is expected by 2025.
In total, 6,500 photovoltaic panels will be installed on approximately 3.5 hectares on the land of each factory, with an annual electricity production capacity estimated at 4.5 gigawatts per hour, avoiding the emission of 1,100 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) per annum.
Cimpor is also preparing the installation, at the Alhandra and Souselas units, of two waste heat recovery units for the generation of electrical energy, with nearly eight megawatts of power.
According to the company, together with the photovoltaic parks, the objective is to autonomously generate 30% of energy needs and reduce, also by 30%, as indirect CO2.
The project was announced as part of the disclosure of the sustainability report.
Over the past three years, Cimpor has allocated 7.2 million euros to environmental investments to make its operations more sustainable.
“The photovoltaic project for the production of electricity in the three production units, among others in progress, is strategic to achieve the environmental objectives we set ourselves, in addition to reducing electrical consumption and optimizing production processes”, he said, quoted in the same document, the executive president of Cimpor, Luís Fernandes.
In the document, Cimpor also noted that, in recent years, the use of alternative raw materials has increased, and last year it used about 150,000 tons, equivalent to just under 3% of the total raw materials consumed .
The company also wants to achieve a thermal replacement rate of 70% by 2030.
In 2020, Cimpor had already announced an investment of 100 million euros in projects for the modernization of industrial assets and research and development, to be carried out until 2030.