A new cycle of innovation for a strategic sector in the energy transition

João Andrade
Technical Director, Greenvolt Group

Artificial intelligence, digitalisation and battery storage are already shaping Greenvolt Group’s sustainable biomass segment. More efficiency and predictability in this strategic resource.

The energy transition is a global and undeniable imperative and, at least in Europe, an evident necessity. Perhaps less evident is that it represents a unique and strategic opportunity highly dependent on external energy sources. Now these countries have more than ever, the possibility to take control of its energy future. We benefit from natural conditions that place us in a privileged position within the European and global context. The sun and the wind are abundant and fundamental resources, but a robust energy transition requires diversification and, above all, complementarity.

It is here that biomass — of residual and sustainable origin — assumes a very relevant role. It ensures continuous production, complements the intermittency of other renewables, and allows for the valorisation of residues that would otherwise be landfilled or remain deposited in forests. Ignoring this resource would be wasting environmental, economic and social value, especially in inland regions where forestry is a central industry. In fact, the use of residual biomass for energy production has a dual effect: it is both a driver and a multiplier. In the circular economy — national and local — in employment, but also in encouraging forest cleaning and mitigating the risk of wildfires. We see potential where others see waste — turning residues into knowledge, and generating enduring value, driven by a deep sense of purpose.  

Innovation is a necessity, not a choice

Despite its maturity and technical robustness, the biomass sector today faces concrete challenges: the seasonality of raw materials, logistical costs, operational complexity and growing demands for efficiency gains. In this sector, innovation is also a response to those challenges. And in this regard, Greenvolt Group has been taking a leading role in the continuous improvement of its operations, turning its plants into smarter, more predictive and more efficient assets. 

Greenvolt Group’s sustainable biomass operation: continuous improvement, operational excellence and innovation

A new cycle in biomass demands more than intentions — it demands urgent and concrete action. In Portugal, this transformation is already underway, with Greenvolt’s Figueira da Foz II (SBM) plant implementing a battery storage system that operates in an integrated way with the plant’s control system. This solution allows for dynamic adjustment of the power injected into the grid, optimising delivery in real time through “pouch cell” technology. The result: greater operational efficiency and a 5% increase in output. 

In the United Kingdom, at another Greenvolt plant — Kent Renewable Energy — a similar solution is being implemented with the same goal: efficiency gains that make the most of production potential, thus adding value to the asset and the energy system. 

Alongside storage, artificial intelligence is gaining prominence in the management of these infrastructures. Also in the UK, at Greenvolt’s first plant in the country — Tilbury Green Power — a monitoring and prediction platform is being implemented that uses advanced algorithms to assess patterns and optimise performance. This system will allow the identification of operational deviations in real time — essential information for implementing better-informed and faster corrective actions, promoting gains in both efficiency and reliability. 

This platform will constitute Greenvolt’s center of competences for monitoring and prediction of generating assets, fostering business knowledge, benchmarking best practices, and a proven business case for elevating our assets to the next level of operational excellence.

These are concrete steps towards a new generation of biomass plants: smarter, more efficient, and better prepared for the challenges of the energy transition.

Biomass: energy with renewed ambition

Responsible for around 6% of the national electricity supply, biomass plays a structural role in the energy mix, complementing the intermittency of other renewables and contributing to system stability. 

At Greenvolt Group, we believe in this sector, which has decades of history and high maturity. However, for us, maturity does not mean stagnation. With a dynamic, ambitious and future-oriented team, we combine experience with a strategic and innovative vision. It is with this energy that we continue to transform and evolve sustainable biomass actively contributing to a greener and more efficient future.