Decarbonisation in Catalan Industry: Emission Trends and Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Repsol, Dow Chemical, and Molins lead in pollutant gas emissions among Catalan industrial facilities, though all three reduced their emissions in 2025. The regulated installations in Catalonia emitted a total of 11.18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2025, marking a 26 percent decrease from the previous year. Over the past two decades, these facilities have successfully reduced their total emissions by more than 50 percent, demonstrating significant progress in industrial decarbonisation efforts.
The Repsol oil refinery in La Pobla de Mafumet in Tarragones was the largest emitter last year, releasing two million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Although this represents a 3.7 percent decline from 2024, it remains the most polluting complex in the region. The refinery exceeded the EU Emissions Trading System allowance of 1.4 million tonnes for 2025, highlighting ongoing challenges in aligning industrial output with regulatory limits. Surpassing this cap exposes industries to substantial fines, although excess allowances can often be carried over or sold.
Dow Chemical's plant emitted 884,346 tonnes, which is 3.9 percent lower than in 2024, but still above its permitted limit of 743,346 tonnes. Meanwhile, the Molins cement plant in Sant Vicenc dels Horts reduced emissions by 7 percent to 735,662 tonnes, under its quota of 892,131 tonnes. These reductions were achieved mainly through improvements in energy efficiency and targeted cutbacks in production sectors such as cement and oil refining.
Other notable high-emission facilities include the Portland Valderrivas plant in Santa Margarida i els Monjos and Cemex in Alcanar, which have historically ranked among the top polluters in the region. Collectively, all Catalan installations covered by the EU ETS emitted 11.18 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2025, a decline of 26 percent compared to 2024. These plants now account for roughly 30 percent of the regions overall emissions, maintaining their role in regional environmental impact.
Since the implementation of the EU ETS in 2005, the region has achieved over a 50 percent reduction in industrial emissions. The biggest contributors to this decline have been the cement and combined heat and power sectors, which collectively reduced their emissions by over 300,000 tonnes in 2025. The oil refining, glass manufacturing, and organic chemicals sectors reduced theirs by approximately 160,000 tonnes, primarily due to energy efficiency improvements and selective production reductions.
In contrast, the electricity sector saw a rise of 12 percent in emissions, making it the most polluting sector in 2025 despite a still moderate increase in natural gas prices and ongoing drought conditions. The largest emission sources across sectors include electric power with 2.5 million tonnes, cement with 2.3 million, oil with 2.1 million, and chemical products with two million. Moving forward, sustaining emission reductions will require continued technological innovation, stricter regulation enforcement, and sector-specific strategies to balance economic activity with climate commitments.