Sunita Somvanshi
Solarig has announced, in an event held with the Castilla y León Regional Government, the development of one of the world’s most innovative sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plants in the province of Soria, at the Environmental Business Park (PEMA) located in the municipality of Garray. The event was attended by Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, President of the Junta de Castilla y León; Miguel Ángel Calleja, President and CEO of Solarig, among other authorities and personalities.
The project, named ‘Numantia SAF,’ will have a production capacity of 60,000 tons per year of SAF, equivalent to over 12,000 Madrid-Mallorca flights. With a total estimated investment of 780 million euros, this facility will include fully dedicated renewable assets such as a 370 MWp solar photovoltaic plant, a 50 MW wind farm, and a battery storage system with a 100 MWh capacity.
‘Numantia SAF’ will promote the creation of over 1,000 direct and indirect skilled jobs—870 during the construction phase and more than 140 in operation and maintenance—supporting local development and the use of existing infrastructure. The facility is expected to start construction in two years and become operational by 2028. The agreement reached between Solarig and SOMACYL (Public Company of Infrastructure and Environment of Castilla y León) includes the acquisition of 116,000 square meters for the plant’s development within the Environmental Business Park (PEMA).
Miguel Ángel Calleja, President and CEO of Solarig, highlighted that this new facility positions Castilla y León at the forefront of sustainable fuel production development. “A few months ago, Solarig launched the development of a biomethane strategy in Castilla y León, and today Solarig is announcing a pioneering project in the world with a fully circular approach: it involves the use and recovery of biogas produced from our agricultural and livestock waste together with renewable resources: water, wind and sun. By combining these local resources with the latest technology, Solarig will be able to join the sustainable fuel economy that is now emerging. I firmly believe that this initiative will allow us to retain enormous added value at the local level, generate quality jobs and boost economic growth in Castilla y León”.
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60,000 tons of SAF is the annual production target for the Soria plant.
Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, President of the Junta de Castilla y León, stated, “Solarig’s commitment to Soria highlights its potential as an investment destination and a source of quality employment, and the province is set to be an example of sustainable economic growth. This project, which has been presented today, responds to the regional government’s objective of harnessing the region’s energy potential and turning it into a source of wealth and employment, and is aligned with sustainable progress, the circular economy, respect for the environment and the energy transition towards decarbonisation”.
The plant will combine two routes for SAF production at the same facility. The first, Gas-to-Liquid (GtL), involves reforming biomethane obtained from the valorization of regional agricultural waste. The second, Power-to-Liquid (PtL), combines biogenic CO2 with the production of renewable hydrogen. The plant’s entire power supply will be based on dedicated renewable energies. The project aims for decarbonization by capturing and using 140,000 tons of CO2 annually and reducing CO2 emissions by 170,000 tons per year.
SAF is a key element in decarbonizing the aviation sector, which accounts for 14% of global CO2 emissions from transport. In this regard, the European Commission has launched programs like ‘ReFuelEU Aviation‘ within the ‘Fit for 55’ initiative, which will impose SAF usage percentages on the aviation industry.
