Portugal's Paper Industry Electrifies Heat with EDP

EDP and Paper Prime have launched a groundbreaking industrial heat electrification project in Portugal. The initiative, which took place at Paper Prime's manufacturing facility in Vila Velha de Rodão, involves installing a 2.7 MW electric boiler that enables part of the natural gas consumption to be replaced with electricity.

The solution allows for flexibility in managing electricity and natural gas use, enabling operations to adapt to changing energy market conditions. When the electric boiler is in operation, Paper Prime can benefit from electricity prices that are competitive with natural gas prices, reducing exposure to market volatility.

During the first three months of operation, the project reduced natural gas consumption by over 4.5 GWh and avoided more than 830 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The average electricity price in the Iberian market was lower than the average natural gas price for more than half of the time during the first half of 2026.

EDP provides the heat electrification solution under a Heat-as-a-Service model, which assumes the initial investment and responsibility for installation, operation, and maintenance. This allows Paper Prime to benefit from the technology without requiring upfront capital investment.