• Repsol will invest over €800 million in Tarragona’s Ecoplant, the first European facility to convert urban waste into renewable methanol.
• The plant will create 340 long-term jobs and 2,800 jobs during construction.
• The EU-backed project is expected to cut 3.4 million tons of CO2 emissions over its first decade.

Repsol has approved a landmark investment in Catalonia to build Europe’s first facility transforming municipal waste into renewable methanol—a crucial fuel for decarbonizing transport and promoting the circular economy.

“This investment is a clear commitment by Repsol to maintain industrial employment in Spain and to continue generating wealth in the surrounding area.”

How It Works:

• The Tarragona-based Ecoplant will process 400,000 tons of waste annually, producing 240,000 tons of renewable methanol and circular products.
• Using advanced gasification technology developed by Enerkem, it gives a second life to waste that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated.
• The project has secured EU Innovation Fund backing due to its emissions reduction potential and innovative nature.

Related Article: Repsol to Develop Renewable Energy Projects in Italy Totaling More Than 1,700 MW

Why It Matters:

• The European Commission estimates the plant will cut 3.4 million tons of CO2 over its first decade.
• The European Union aims to reduce carbon intensity in maritime transport by 40% by 2030 and 75% by 2050.
• Repsol already produces renewable diesel in Cartagena and sees renewable methanol as key for decarbonizing shipping, aviation, and road transport.

Scaling the Vision:

With global demand for methanol projected to quintuple by 2050, Repsol is assessing expansion opportunities beyond Tarragona to replicate this model in other regions.

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