Portugal’s EDP, Rondo sign PPA for solar-powered industrial heat project

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Portugal’s first heat-as-a-service agreement combines a 7 MW solar plant and a 100 MWh thermal battery to provide continuous, zero-emission steam for industrial use, according to Rondo Energy and Energias de Portugal (EDP).</span></p><p><strong>From <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.es/2025/11/03/edp-y-rondo-firman-en-portugal-un-ppa-de-heat-as-a-service-con-una-solucion-fotovoltaica-con-baterias-termicas/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">pv magazine Spain</a></strong></p>
<p>Central de Cervejas e Bebidas, the brewery and malt house owned by Heineken Group in Portugal, has signed an agreement with US manufacturer Rondo Energy and Portuguese utility EDP to install a 100 MWh thermal battery at its Lisbon plant.</p>
<p>The companies said the system will be among the largest thermal batteries in the global beverage industry and marks Portugal’s first major heat purchase agreement, a model that combines renewable energy generation with on-site heat storage. The project is still subject to standard administrative and regulatory approvals.</p>
<p>Under the terms of the deal, EDP will build a 7 MWp solar plant on the brewery’s site to power Rondo’s thermal battery. The system stores renewable electricity as high-temperature heat and supplies continuous, carbon-free steam, replacing fossil-fuel boilers. Using refractory bricks to store energy, the battery can deliver steam on demand at pressures above 100 bar and operate continuously for up to 24 hours – without combustion or emissions.</p>
<p>The battery will also be charged with renewable electricity from the grid through a long-term flexible power purchase agreement (PPA) between Central de Cervejas e Bebidas and EDP, covering about 25 GWh per year.</p>
<p>Central de Cervejas e Bebidas already operates two solar plants built by EDP, with a combined capacity of 2 MWp. The company said the project could serve as a model for other energy-intensive industries, including food and beverage, paper, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.</p>