To celebrate Portugal’s Bioenergy Day on 31 October, we highlight how Portuguese tissue manufacturer Renova is using biomass to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and decarbonise industrial production.

At its Factory 2 facility in Torres Novas, Renova has completed an €11 million decarbonisation project, centred on a new biomass plant that replaces most of the natural gas previously used to produce heat for its manufacturing processes.

Renewable heat for more sustainable production

The new biomass installation can process up to 90 tonnes of biomass per day, generating up to 18 tonnes of steam per hour to support tissue production.

The project, known as Descarbonizar@Renova, has already reduced the factory’s direct and energy-related indirect CO₂ emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 50.6% compared with 2020 levels, exceeding its original 43% reduction target.

Renova estimates that the new biomass plant will avoid approximately 54,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, with natural gas now used primarily as a backup during maintenance or unexpected interruptions.

Investing in cleaner and more competitive industry

Supported by approximately €5.8 million in funding from Portugal’s EU-backed Recovery and Resilience Plan, the investment is part of a broader effort to improve energy efficiency and modernise industrial operations.

Alongside the biomass plant, Renova has introduced additional measures, including improved waste heat recovery and its first electric paper-drying unit.

Renova’s experience shows how bioenergy can provide reliable renewable heat for industrial processes, helping manufacturers reduce dependence on fossil fuels while improving their environmental performance and competitiveness.

As Portugal celebrates Bioenergy Day, projects like Renova’s show how investing in biomass can make industrial decarbonisation a practical reality.

Source: Bioenergy Insight, 6 July 2026.