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| Acciona receives the European Business Award for the Environment Acciona Energía has won the European Business Awards for the Environment (Spanish Section) in the category of Product Sustainable for the biodiesel it produces in its plant at Caparroso (Navarre, northern Spain). The European Business Awards for the Environment are convened every two years by the DG Environment of the European Commission with the aim of giving public recognition to organisations that contribute to compliance with the principle of sustainable development. The Fundación Entorno has organised the Spanish Section of the award since 1997 in conjunction with the Industry and Environment Ministries. The prize-winners in this edition now have the opportunity to participate in the European final together with candidates from the 25 member states. The prize-winning biodiesel produced by Acciona Energía is made from a range of first-use vegetable oils: rapeseed, soya and palm. This is a new development in Spain, and the product complies with all the quality parameters established in European Standard EN-14214. Acciona Energía produces the fuel in its plant at Caparroso, which has been operational since early 2005. Its customers are oil sector companies and captive fleets, and also individual motorists in two petrol stations in Navarre that sell 100% pure biodiesel. Its manufacturing plant will be extended in 2006 to duplicate its current production from 35, 000 to 70, 000 tonnes a year. The biodiesel -on which the company has been working with different types of vegetable oils since 2003- reduces the polluting emissions created by conventional diesel: 22% less CO, 99% less SO2, 52% fewer particles in suspension and 63% fewer unburnt hydrocarbons. This biodiesel also reduces CO2 emissions in the full cycle of the product by 90% and can be used in any diesel vehicle. In socioeconomic terms, the project contributes to job creation in rural areas because it encourages the planting of crops for the production of oil for biodiesel plants. Acciona Group, one of the main Spanish and international companies in the development and management of infrastructures, services and renewable energy sources. In the first nine months of 2005 Acciona reported profits of 3, 454 million € (+17.1%), a net attributable result of 256 million € (+40.2%, excluding extraordinary items) and an EBITDA of 523 million euros (+33.6%). write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |