Technip Energies partners with Repsol and Enerkem to build Europe’s first large-scale waste-to-methanol plant in Spain.
Technip Energies has secured two significant engineering services contracts from Repsol for the groundbreaking Ecoplanta Molecular Recycling Solutions (Ecoplanta) project. This pioneering initiative involves the construction of Europe’s first large-scale facility capable of converting non-recyclable municipal solid waste and biomass into renewable methanol. The plant will be located in El Morell, near Tarragona, Spain, and represents a major step forward in sustainable waste management and circular economy initiatives.
The Ecoplanta project will serve as a transformative example of waste valorization at scale, addressing the pressing challenge of diverting residual waste from landfills. By converting non-recyclable waste streams into low-carbon methanol, the facility aims to support decarbonization efforts in sectors that are otherwise difficult to abate. This renewable methanol will serve as a versatile feedstock for producing advanced biofuels and new circular materials, aligning with Europe’s goals for sustainable industrial practices and a more circular economy.
Central to the facility’s operations will be Enerkem’s advanced gasification technology. This state-of-the-art process will enable the plant to process up to 400,000 tons of residual municipal waste each year, generating approximately 240,000 tons of renewable methanol annually. This output will significantly contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously offering a sustainable alternative to fossil-based methanol for industrial and energy applications.
Technip Energies’ role in the project encompasses two comprehensive contracts covering the full delivery spectrum. The first contract involves the Enerkem Core Process, developed collaboratively by Enerkem and Technip Energies, while the second addresses the Balance of Plant, ensuring seamless integration across all project units. Under these agreements, Technip Energies will deliver engineering and procurement services, oversee the installation and integration of Enerkem’s gasification technology, and ensure the operational readiness of all facility components.
This collaboration builds upon the strategic partnership between Technip Energies and Enerkem, formalized in 2024, highlighting a shared commitment to advancing circular solutions at commercial scale. The project also benefits from co-funding by the European Union’s Innovation Fund, which underscores the EU’s support for innovative technologies that mitigate climate change. Over its first decade of operation, the Ecoplanta facility is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 3.4 million tons of CO2-equivalent.
Sylvain Cabalery, Senior Vice President of the Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals & Circularity Business Line at Technip Energies, emphasized the project’s significance: “We are privileged to contribute to the Ecoplanta project, a landmark for circularity and an unprecedented achievement in waste-to-fuel transformation in Europe. These contracts reflect our enduring collaboration with Enerkem and our dedication to scaling circular and sustainable solutions. Supporting Europe’s first commercial-scale facility of this kind highlights our Technology, Products and Services (TPS) segment’s capacity for innovation and demonstrates our commitment to a greener and more circular future, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula.”
