Energy provider Endesa has launched an ambitious €15.5 million overhaul of its combined-cycle thermal power plant in Sant Adrià de Besòs, a major project designed to enhance the facility’s efficiency, reliability, and operational safety.
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Known as the Besós V power station, this facility is a critical piece of energy infrastructure for the Barcelona metropolitan area. Situated in coastal Sant Adrià de Besòs, the plant’s upgrade represents the latest in a series of significant area developments, including a €100 million urban transformation and a major waterfront revamp.
This investment from Endesa, a key player in Spain’s energy market, also accompanies the company’s €54 million plan with Barcelona City Council to manage street works across the city. Moreover, while this project focuses on the operational Besós V plant, Sant Adrià is also famous for the iconic three chimneys of a decommissioned plant, which recently made headlines when base jumpers parachuted from their peaks.
A Meticulous Engineering Endeavour
The project, which began in January, is a significant logistical undertaking. It will involve 80,000 working hours, with an average of 120 technicians on-site daily, expected to rise to 200 during peak periods. Endesa is collaborating with 58 specialised contractor firms to complete the extensive works.
As reported by El Periódico, Endesa outlined that the review’s primary goal is to “guarantee greater reliability, efficiency, safety, and availability” of the power plant.
The overhaul targets the 859MW facility’s core components. Interventions include the complete rewinding of the steam turbine’s generator stator and repairs to its rotor. Engineers will also comprehensively inspect the turbine’s high, medium, and low-pressure modules. Simultaneously, the plant’s gas turbines are undergoing standard annual inspections.
The project’s scope extends to numerous auxiliary systems. These include the water-steam circuits, the main condenser, recovery boilers, primary pumps, instrumentation and control systems, and the desalinated water plant. Furthermore, critical electrical infrastructure, such as power transformers and protection systems, will also receive attention.
Securing Barcelona’s Energy Future
This substantial investment highlights the Sant Adrià plant’s continued importance in maintaining a stable power supply for the region. While the global energy transition focuses on renewables, efficient and reliable combined-cycle gas plants like Besós V play a crucial role in ensuring grid stability, especially during periods of high demand or low renewable generation.
By improving the plant’s efficiency, Endesa aims to not only enhance its reliability but also its environmental performance, thereby reducing the resources needed to generate each megawatt of electricity. The project also provides a temporary but significant economic stimulus, engaging dozens of local and specialised contracting firms.
The investment in this key industrial asset is situated within a municipality facing diverse challenges and opportunities. These range from large-scale urban regeneration projects to persistent social issues in neighbourhoods like La Mina, which collectively highlight the complex fabric of the Besòs area.
