Sorigué’s Industry division has built a unique cold production plant in Spain, which harnesses the low residual temperatures from the LNG regasification process to produce 131 GWh per year of energy, used for cooling public and private buildings.  

Sorigué was responsible for the civil works, supply, prefabrication, and assembly of the new structure, as well as the prefabrication and installation of piping and equipment. The new plant has a calculated capacity of 15 MW and cools a thermal fluid (glycol water) distributed at approximately -20ºC through a cold pipeline, reaching customers at two temperatures: -15ºC for industrial refrigeration and +5ºC for residential, tertiary, and commercial air conditioning. 

Residual cold for refrigeration  

In the traditional regasification process, LNG arrives at the terminal by ship in a liquid state at -160ºC and uses seawater to transform into natural gas at ambient temperature. Thanks to this new regasification and transport solution, developed through Enagás’ innovation, the residual cold is utilized at -20ºC to supply the southern area of Barcelona and parts of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.  

The recovered energy is fed into the networks of Ecoenergies Barcelona (a company co-owned by Veolia, Barcelona City Council, and Copisa) to cool key facilities such as Fira de Barcelona, offices of the Generalitat de Catalunya, industrial centres, businesses, hotels, shopping centres, and residential clients. Soon, the residual cold will also benefit Mercabarna, the main wholesale market for fruits and vegetables in the province of Barcelona. 

A replicable project for other cities 

This innovation prevents the emission of over 32,000 tons of CO₂ annually, reinforcing the commitment of Veolia, Enagás, and Barcelona City Council to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transform the city into an environmentally friendly space. 

Veolia and Enagás have also signed a collaboration agreement to replicate this cold recovery, distribution, and commercialization solution in other LNG terminals, both in Spain and internationally. 

Sorigué, a leader in industrial projects 

A leading company in infrastructure, water cycle, and urban services, Sorigué also has over two decades of experience in industrial maintenance, particularly in projects related to energy generation and the construction and maintenance of mechanical and electrical installations. 

Among other energy efficiency projects, Sorigué installed a geothermal heat pump heating system powered by photovoltaic panels at the Núria hostel in Lleida in 2019.  

Previously, it was responsible for building the heating and cooling network that runs through the Sant Martí and Ciutat Vella districts in Barcelona to supply thermal cooling energy to the Hospital del Mar.  

Additionally, Sorigué collaborates with Enagás in the maintenance and upgrading of equipment at its LNG storage facilities at the Port of Barcelona’s dock.