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Iberdrola España completes demolition of the chimney of the old Lada Thermal Power Station in Asturias
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The chimney, 180 metres high, was built in the Asturian region of Langreo in 1981 and consisted of two shafts, one internal and one external
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Due to the proximity to the town and to avoid affecting the neighbours, the demolition was done in a controlled manner using robots
Iberdrola España has completed the demolition of the chimney of the former Lada Thermal Power Plant in Asturias. Due to its proximity to the town and to control noise and disturbances for the residents of Langreo, it couldn’t be demolished with explosives. Taking down the entire shaft and the demolition had to be carried out in a controlled way using robots.
The chimney, 180 meters high, has been installed in Langreo since 1981. It consisted of two shafts, one internal and one external.
For its controlled and safe demolition, a platform was installed, which started working at 180 meters. Two robots were installed on it, and they gradually knocked down both shafts, descending as the material fell. All the debris generated has been falling into the chimney itself, minimizing the dust. This process took several months.
Once it was down to 30 metres, the scaffolding was removed and the chimney knocked completely down. The job was completed in just one week and today the area is clean.
The landscape of Langreo has been significantly transformed and during the first half of the year the boiler – practically finished – and the desulphurisation plant will come down like the chimney did.
New opportunities to boost the energy transition in Asturias
Iberdrola España's commitment to the Asturian mining area and in relation to the land of the former Lada power plant, offers new opportunities linked to the energy transition.
Iberdrola España recently signed an agreement with the Principality of Asturias to recover the Nitrastur land as a site for the future Asturian social and healthcare logistics platform, which will house the centralised laundry services of the entire public healthcare network and homes for the elderly. The agreement includes the company's intention to cede to the Principality the 121,324 square metre plot located in the vicinity of the Lada power station so that the Principality can recover this former industrial space and build a facility that will involve an investment of €12 M and a hundred direct jobs.
Iberdrola España, as part of its commitment to work towards and for a just energy transition, will cede the property and the buildings that have not been demolished because they are protected to the Principality, and roll out an environmental adaptation of the land through a decontamination project, like the one it successfully did on the same plot in 2022 on 40,000 m2.
The Principality, for its part, undertakes to accept the land and the buildings that remain listed, as well as to help in talks with other administrations and public bodies, above all with the Langreo Town Council, to obtain all the permits, licences and authorisations needed to decontaminate, delist and demolish the buildings.
Iberdrola España-Bayer: State-of-the-art technology for industry in Asturias
Bayer and Iberdrola España have also signed the agreement that will enable the electrification of Bayer's production plant in La Felguera, Asturias, which represents one of the most important projects for the industrial decarbonisation of the Asturian mining area.
Iberdrola España will install an innovative thermal storage system, designed by the Spanish company Inerco, next to Bayer's plant and will transform 100% renewable electricity from an adjacent self-consumption facility and its various renewable plants into the steam Bayer needs to carry out its work. This is the first heat purchase agreement (HPA) of its kind in Spain.
The project, which has been a beneficiary of Ministry of Industry’s Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation for industrial decarbonisation and which has the support of the Institute for Energy Diversification and Savings (IDAE) in the New Business Models line, has a budget of €17 M and expects to complete its development by June 2026.
With this important milestone, the plant that produces Bayer's acetylsalicylic acid for the entire world will become the first site in its industry in Spain to decarbonise and one of the first in the world, thanks to the photovoltaic plant that Iberdrola España will install next to the factory on the unusable land of the former thermal power plant.
This technology will allow Bayer to decarbonise its plant while reducing the impact of fossil fuel volatility on its business. In addition, this commitment will reduce CO2 emissions and pollution, increasing the consumption of local renewable energy and contributing to the improvement of the trade balance. The project takes advantage of Spain's renewable generation potential and increase industrial competitiveness.
Iberdrola España's ‘Plan Lada’
All decisions are part of Iberdrola España's strategy to combat climate change and are in line with its commitment to reduce the intensity of CO2 emissions until becoming carbon neutral in 2050. They also help the company move forward towards the energy transition to decarbonise the economy based on the development of clean, sustainable and competitive technologies.
Iberdrola España, in addition to the plan to invest in renewable energies, launched an action plan for the region of Lada, Asturias.
Iberdrola España's plan for the region’s transformation is based on four cornerstones: investment in clean technologies, promotion of the development of local suppliers, training, and support for local entrepreneurship.
