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and still get the most out of the existing plant?“ We knew the energy landscape was changing and moving toward renewables. The first question we had to answer was whether this kind of conversion was possible.”
The answer lay in years of technical assessment. La Pereda was originally designed to accommodate limited biomass use, and previous research programs had demonstrated higher levels of co-firing. Converting the plant to run entirely on biomass, however, presented a different challenge.
The boiler took center stage. HUNOSA and technology owner Sumitomo teamed up to see if the system could handle a full conversion. Once they proved it could work, the project moved ahead. The results made the business case clear: much of the facility could stay in use, so there was no need to rebuild from scratch.“ The turbine
and generator stay in place. We are not touching them.” That decision reflects a broader mindset. Instead of replacing old infrastructure, HUNOSA looks for ways to adapt industrial assets for new energy needs.
Building an ecosystem
Today, the € 56 + million project is well into construction, with development underway since 2019. Teams started dismantling in 2025, and now the site is fully in build mode.“ We hope to commission the plant in summer 2027.”
While engineering is a big part of the job, María likes to talk about supply chains. She believes the project’ s long-term value comes from building an ecosystem around the plant, not just treating it as a one-off. Asturias has huge biomass potential, but most of it is not tapped yet. Delivering La Pereda is more than just converting a plant. It takes a supply
C / Posada Herrera 2-2 º | 33002 Oviedo, Asturias, SPAIN tel. + 34 984 284 918 | magnadea. es
At La Pereda Power Plant in Asturias, Magna Dea is helping HUNOSA address a key challenge of industrial decarbonisation: transforming an existing 50 MW facility to operate with biomass and solid recovered fuel while maintaining quality and longterm reliability. As Owner’ s Engineer, Magna Dea provides independent technical oversight across engineering, construction and validation, reviewing EPC drawings, calculations, specifications and procedures to verify compliance with contractual requirements, applicable standards and the approved design basis. Close coordination with promoters and continuous site supervision help identify technical, quality and schedule risks before they affect commissioning or operation. This multidisciplinary approach extends across energy, hydraulic, industrial, civil engineering and environmental projects, supporting clients from design through testing and commissioning. With a strong local presence and the flexibility to support projects elsewhere, Magna Dea brings technical rigour, practical experience and independent oversight to complex engineering challenges, helping deliver reliable, efficient and future-ready assets for clients.
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