Creation of a thermal plant for the municipality of Naut Aran, Catalonia

Naut Aran is the first municipality in the Aran Valley, Lleida, to undertake a comprehensive renewable energy project using biowaste to power heating systems in public facilities. 

The thermal plant, or District Heating system, is located at the Salardú hostel and is supplied with wood chips from the forests of the Aran Valley. The heat produced benefits the heated ramps in Salardú and facilities such as the multi-purpose hall, the municipal swimming pool and the Town Council offices. 

One of the project’s most significant added benefits is the installation of a fibre-optic communication network connecting all the buildings served by the heating network. Through this connection, the municipality has all the technical information required for the control, management and maintenance of the facility. 

The system comprises a boiler room with a biomass silo, two boilers (800 kW and 400 kW) and a network of pre-insulated, underground pipes connected and adapted to buildings and ramps. 

Key works carried out include: 

• Extension of the building for the thermal plant, and installation of two biomass boilers, a silo, feed and filtration systems. 
• Assembly of the main electrical panel and indoor lighting systems. 
• Assembly of the hydraulic installation, leak testing, hydraulic balancing and commissioning. 
• Excavation of trenches for the District Heating, laying of pre-insulated pipes, installation of substations, pavement reinstatement and connection of buildings and heated ramps. 
• Installation of heat exchange substations, hydraulic and electrical connections, integration with each building, valves, pumps, control systems and commissioning.