This week a new biomass plant started operating in Corrientes. It is the second of its kind in the province, with an investment of **$200 million**.
Located in **Gobernador Virasoro**, the project, developed by **Renewable Energy Sources Corporation (Fresa)**, part of **Insud Group**, aims to become the largest in Argentina.
## How is the new biomass plant in Corrientes
With this new plant, Insud will double its production capacity and achieve a generation of **80 MWh**. This is enough to supply 20% of the entire electricity consumption of the province of Corrientes.
During the construction of the plant, **over 600 jobs** were created at the peak of activity. Currently, the complex (located on a 15-hectare site) employs **152 people directly and over 300 in indirect activities** in the influence area.
This second plant, named San Alonso Thermal Power Plant (**CTSA**), has the same generation capacity as the original, but operates under a different corporate name.
Of all the electricity produced by both plants, **10% is used for self-consumption** and the rest is injected into the national interconnected system.
## The role of the forestry industry
Both plants operate using **forestry-industrial by-products**, with **Pomera** being the raw material supplier, also part of Insud. Pomera specializes in the production and commercialization of solid wood.
Established in 2020, Fresa is dedicated to using forest industry waste (chips, sawdust, bark, pine, and eucalyptus branches) to **convert waste into energy**.
In this way, it not only **contributes to the electrical system** but also provides a profitable and sustainable solution for the local forestry industry.
It prevents about **50% of the raw material from ending up as waste** or in open-air burns.
## Biomass, the cheapest, safest, and most efficient energy
Biomass is **organic matter of plant or animal origin** that can be used as an energy source.
It is a renewable energy source obtained from organic waste such as agriculture, the food industry, or wood.
## How it is obtained
The regeneration of biomass energy consists of a process of converting **chemical gas energy into mechanical energy** through a combustion process that later activates the mechanical energy in a generator that produces electricity.
It is worth mentioning that this type of energy production is economical and sustainable for the planet due to the **low combustion emission levels** it generates.
Its added value lies in its contribution to keeping forests cleaner and significantly reducing forest fire rates.
The biomass energy production process is **through boilers** where the organic material is introduced, burned slowly, and this process **allows heat storage** to generate electricity for large industries’ production.
